Qalandars end United’s winning streak with 88-run victory

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars brought an end to the winning run of Islamabad United with a comprehensive 88-run triumph in the 19th match of PSL 2025 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The victory propelled Lahore to eight points, putting them on par with Quetta Gladiators in the league standings, while United, despite the defeat, remains at the top of the table with 10 points from their previous five consecutive wins.

The Qalandars’ innings 209/6 (20 overs) was set up by a solid opening partnership between Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman. The duo put on 50 runs in just 5.5 overs before Naeem was dismissed for a brisk 25 off 22 deliveries, including four boundaries and a six.

Fakhar Zaman continued his fine form, scoring an aggressive 44 from just 30 balls, studded with 5 fours and 2 sixes. His innings provided the perfect platform for the middle order to build upon. Fakhar’s dismissal at 97 in the 10th over brought Abdullah Shafique to the crease.

Abdullah Shafique played a brief but effective innings of 22 from 17 balls with 3 boundaries before being dismissed in the 13th over with the team score at 108.

New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell added valuable runs in the middle overs, contributing 28 off 18 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes before departing in the 16th over with the score at 145.

Islamabad United’s bowlers had a challenging day, with most of them facing the brunt of the Qalandars’ aggressive batting. Jason Holder was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 54, while Imad Wasim was the most economical, claiming 2 wickets for 26 runs. Ben Dwarshuis managed to take 1 wicket but was expensive, conceding 51 runs.

Chasing a daunting target of 210, Islamabad United’s innings never gained momentum and folded at 121 all out (16.5 overs), falling short by a massive 88 runs.