The Pakistan Super League (PSL) began in Rawalpindi on Friday with a clash between Rishad Hossain’s Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United. Despite Rishad being in the squad, he was not included in the playing eleven.
In a low-scoring contest, Lahore Qalandars were bowled out for just 139 after opting to bat first. Islamabad United chased down the target comfortably, winning by 8 wickets with 14 balls to spare.
Jason Holder was the star of the match, claiming 4 wickets for 26 runs in his 4 overs, earning him the Player of the Match award. Captain Shadab Khan also impressed, picking up 3 wickets and keeping Lahore under pressure.
Islamabad (143/2 vs 139/10) Lahore
After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Lahore Qalandars struggled, losing wickets regularly. Abdullah Shafiq, who came in at number three, was the only one to provide resistance, scoring 66 runs off 38 balls. Sikandar Raja was the second-highest scorer with 23 runs. Lahore was eventually bowled out for 139 runs in 19.2 overs.
Islamabad United faced minimal trouble despite losing opener Andris Gauss early. Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for 25 runs, but Colin Munro and Salman Ali Agha steadied the chase. Munro remained unbeaten on 59 off 42 balls, while Agha Salman finished with 41 not out off 34 balls, guiding Islamabad to an 8-wicket victory.
