Kings and United Set to Clash for Top-Two Spot

RAWALPINDI: Lahore Qalandars, a two-time champion, showcased dominance by securing a 26-run victory against Peshawar Zalmi in a crucial Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 match held at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Due to rainfall, the match was shortened to 13 overs per side, Peshawar Zalmi’s captain, Babar Azam, opted to field first after winning the toss.

The Qalandars amassed a significant total of 149/8, propelled by a half-century from the seasoned opener, Fakhar Zaman.

Zaman led the Qalandars’ batting lineup with a 60-run innings off 36 balls, featuring 10 boundaries, including three sixes.

In pursuit of the challenging 150-run target, Zalmi’s batting order only managed to score 123/8, resulting in a defeat that ended their campaign.

Daniel Sams, batting in the lower order, remained the highest scorer with 26 not out, followed by Ahmed Daniyal (24), Abdul Samad (17), and Babar Azam (16), while the remaining batters failed to reach double digits.

This defeat marked a first for Peshawar Zalmi, as they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in the league’s history. The Qalandars now join Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, and Karachi Kings in the next stage.

This victory also propelled Lahore Qalandars to third place in the PSL 10 standings with 11 points from 10 matches, overtaking United, who have 10 points from nine games.

Quetta Gladiators, the 2019 champions, remain in the top position with 15 points after completing all 10 of their league-stage matches.

The Kings are currently second with 12 points from nine matches and are scheduled to face United in the final league-stage match on Monday. Both teams will be competing for a spot alongside the Gladiators in the Qualifier.

The Kings hold a slight advantage with two more points than United. United would need to win by a considerable margin to improve their Net Run Rate.

Multan Sultans, already eliminated from playoff contention, finished at the bottom of the table with only two points.