Lahore Qalandars pull off record-breaking chase in PSL X showdown

LAHORE: Securing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) X title in a spectacular fashion, Lahore Qalandars achieved the highest-ever run chase in any T20 final on Sunday by chasing 202 runs against Quetta Gladiators with one ball remaining.

In a T20 final, this exciting win is the first time a team has ever successfully chased a target of more than 200 runs. Earlier, the highest successful chase record in T20 final was held by Indian Premier League (IPL)'s Kolkata Knight Riders, who achieved this feat against Kings XI Punjab in the 2014 IPL final.

In a notable twist of fate, Quetta Gladiators became the first team to lose a T20 final after posting a score of 200 or more at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

Shaheen most PSL trophy-winning captain

Adding to the Qalandars' historic triumph, captain Shaheen Afridi cemented his legacy as the most successful captain in PSL history. By leading his team to their third PSL title, the 25-year-old left-arm pacer became the first captain to clinch three championships.

Afridi had previously guided the Qalandars to back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, setting a new benchmark far ahead of all other PSL trophy winning captains, who hold no more than one title.

• Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars) — 3

• Misbah-ul-Haq (Islamabad United) — 1

• Darren Sammy (Peshawar Zalmi) — 1

• JP Duminy (Islamabad United) — 1

• Sarfaraz Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators) — 1

• Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings) — 1

• Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) — 1

• Shadab Khan (Islamabad United) — 1

Momentous triumph

Sikandar Raza hit the winning runs to seal the Pakistan Super League title for Lahore Qalandars on Sunday, having landed just 10 minutes before the toss after a mad dash from England.

The 39-year-old was carried off the field on the shoulders of his celebrating teammates after having jumped on a plane to Pakistan straight after Zimbabwe's innings defeat in the Nottingham Test on Saturday.

Raza hit 22 not out with two sixes and two fours to give the home team a thrilling six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators with one ball to spare.

Needing 13 off the last over to complete a 202-run chase, Raza struck a six and a four to help seal the title.

Sri Lankan Kusal Perera led the chase with an undefeated 31-ball 62 studded with five boundaries and four sixes, adding 59 runs during the unbroken fifth-wicket stand.

Opener Mohammad Naeem scored 46, with half a dozen sixes and one boundary, and Abdullah Shafique hit 41 to set Lahore on course to make the highest successful chase in a PSL final.

Lahore sealed their third title following triumphs in 2022 and 2023.

Hasan Nawaz scored a brilliant 76 to lift Quetta to 201-9 after they won the toss and batted.

Coming in at 21-2, Nawaz added 67 for the fourth wicket with Avishka Fernando (29) and 46 with Dinesh Chandimal (22).

Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of Lahore's bowlers with 3-24.

It was Faheem Ashraf (28) who lifted Quetta past 200, taking 23 off the last over from Salman Mirza.