Lahore:
In the first match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, the defending champions Lahore Qalandars performed brilliantly and easily defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen, who participated in the event for the first time, by 69 runs in the first match.
In the match played at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won and decided to bat first.
Fakhar Zeman and Muhammad Naeem got off to a strong start for defending champions Lahore Qalendar and scored a combined 64 runs in 6 overs and 84 runs in 8 overs.
Muhammad Naeem was the first bowler with 39 runs off 19 balls, 4 fours and a six, after which Abdullah Shafiq came into bat but Fakher Zaman tried to take an unnecessary run which resulted in Abdullah Shafiq’s innings being restricted to just 4 runs as Fakhar Zaman completed his half century.
Fakhar Zeman was also dismissed shortly after scoring 53 runs with 94 points, and Parwez Hussain Iman, who came in to bat after Abdullah Shafiq, could not support Iman.
Haseebullah Khan and Sikandar Raza hit hard and completed the team’s 150 runs in the 17th over.
Hyderabad Kingsmen’s Riley Meredith and Hasan Khan took two wickets each, and Muhammad Ali bowled a bowler.
Lahore Qalandars scored 199 runs for 6 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
The Hyderabad Kingsmen made a poor start in pursuit of the big target and Usman Khan returned to the pavilion for just 25 runs, after Saeem Ayub’s knock was restricted to 17 runs.
Captain Marnus Lebouchane top scored with 26 runs but other batsmen failed to live up to expectations, Riley Meredith scored 19 runs, Hamad Azam 10 runs, Hasan Khan 14 runs and Muhammad Ali 10 runs.
Hyderabad Kingsmen were bowled out for 130 runs in the last match and lost their first match by 69 runs.
Haris Rauf, Obed Shah and Sikandar Raza took 2 wickets each, Shaheen Shah Afrini and Mustafizur Rehman took 2 wickets each.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and other dignitaries attended a brief ceremony before the opening match of PSL 11. Former captain Wasim Akram announced the trophy of the event.
It is worth mentioning that the PCB had already announced that PSL 11 will be held without spectators as part of the government’s austerity measures and by changing the schedule, all the matches were played only in Lahore and Karachi.
Both teams of the match consisted of the following players:
Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Captain), Muhammad Naeem, Fakher Zeman, Abdullah Shafiq, Parwiz Hussain Iman, Hasbullah Khan (Wicket Keeper), Sikander Raza, Asif Ali, Haris Rauf, Mustafizur Rahman, Obed Shah.
Hyderabad Kingsmen: Marnus Lebouchane (captain), Saeem Ayub, Usman Khan (keeper), Kosal Perera, Irfan Niyazi, Rizwan Mehmood, Hasan Khan, Hamad Azam, Riley Meredith, Mohammad Ali, Akif Caved.
