Islamabad United takes early control of PSL 2025 as Lahore Qalandars fall for 139, despite Abdullah Shafique's blazing 66.
In an exciting kick-off to the 2025 edition of the Pakistan Super League, Islamabad United stamped their authority by bowling out Lahore Qalandars for just 139 runs in 19.2 overs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
After being sent in to bat first, Lahore Qalandars never quite got into rhythm, despite a fiery knock by Abdullah Shafique, who smashed a quick 66 off 38 balls, including six boundaries and three sixes. His aggressive approach gave hope early on, but a flurry of dismissals quickly turned the tide in United’s favor.
Jason Holder was the wrecker-in-chief, delivering a match-defining spell of 4 wickets for 26 runs, while Shadab Khan backed him up with 3 scalps of his own, applying pressure throughout the middle overs. The Qalandars’ batting lineup crumbled under this dual assault, with six players failing to reach double figures.
Despite the star-studded presence of Fakhar Zaman, Daryl Mitchell, and Shaheen Afridi, Lahore’s innings never gained enough traction, leaving a modest target for Islamabad United to chase in the second half.
Islamabad United Playing XI:
Andries Gous, Sahibzada Farhan, Colin Munro, Salman Agha, Azam Khan (wk), Shadab Khan (c), Jason Holder, Imad Wasim, Muhammad Shahzad, Naseem Shah, Riley Meredith
Lahore Qalandars Playing XI:
Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Naeem, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Shaheen Afridi (c), Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi
Stay tuned for the second innings as Islamabad United looks to chase down 140 and begin their PSL 2025 campaign with a win.
0 Comments