United Endure First Defeat but Retain Top Spot in PSL 10

LAHORE: In the 19th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, the Lahore Qalandars, playing at home, clinched a decisive 88-run victory against the defending champions, Islamabad United, at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

After being put in to bat, the Qalandars amassed a significant total of 209/6 in their allotted 20 overs, fueled by a collaborative effort from their batting lineup.

Fakhar Zaman spearheaded the Qalandars’ innings with a top score of 44 from 30 deliveries. Valuable contributions also came from Sikandar Raza and Sam Billings, who scored 38 and 39 not out, respectively.

For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim and Jason Holder each claimed two wickets, while Ben Dwarshuis secured one.

In pursuit of the challenging 210-run target, Islamabad United’s batting order collapsed, managing only 121 runs in 16.5 overs. This defeat marked the first for the three-time champions in PSL 10.

Andries Gous was the leading scorer for United, with 41 runs off 27 balls, supported by Salman Ali Agha (36), Shadab Khan (13), and Naseem Shah (11), who also reached double figures.

The substantial 88-run victory not only earned the Qalandars two essential points but also boosted their net run rate to 1.110.

Consequently, the two-time champions have overtaken the 2019 champions, Quetta Gladiators, for the second position, with both teams holding eight points. However, the Gladiators have played one game less.

Despite their first loss in the ongoing PSL 10, Islamabad United remains at the summit with 10 points from six matches. However, their net run rate was affected by this loss.

Karachi Kings hold the fourth position with six points from an equal number of matches, followed by Peshawar Zalmi with four points from four games.

The 2021 champions, Multan Sultans, are currently at the bottom of the standings with just two points after seven matches and a net run rate of -2.355.