Lahore Qalandars chased down Multan Sultans’ total of 185/3 with a dominant 89-run stand between Sikandar Raza and Daryl Mitchell to secure a five-wicket win and claim second spot in the PSL 2025 standings.
After the Sultans elected to bat first, the Qalandars’ seamers made early inroads by limiting openers Mohammad Rizwan and Yasir Khan to just 39 runs in the powerplay, with Yasir’s wicket falling. Rizwan struggled to accelerate and needed to play with caution.
Tom Curran‘s skillful slow deliveries caused significant trouble, removing Shai Hope with a well-disguised ball that nipped in sharply, leaving the Sultans at a vulnerable 70/3 in the 11th over. At that point, Kamran Ghulam joined Rizwan, and the two rebuilt the innings, adding regular boundaries. Ghulam’s rapid-fire 52* off 31 balls and Rizwan’s 76* off 48 guided the Sultans to a competitive 185/3, despite Haris Rauf conceding 20 runs in the final over.
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In response, Qalandars started aggressively but lost early wickets, with Mohammad Naeem dismissed cheaply. However, Abdullah Shafique played with elegance at No. 3, showing his class with a beautiful flick off Mohammad Hasnain. The match remained evenly poised as Ubaid Shah claimed two quick wickets in the 12th over, dismissing Shafique and Sam Billings.
The game turned in Qalandars’ favor as Mitchell and Raza took charge. Their dynamic partnership featured eight sixes and led the team to a comfortable position, scoring quickly and turning the momentum in their favor. They accelerated through the middle overs, collecting 14, 11, and 18 runs in the 13th, 14th, and 15th overs. Mitchell played a vital knock of 64 off 38 balls before falling in the 19th over, but Raza finished the job, guiding Qalandars to victory with 40* from 21 balls.
For the Sultans, this defeat marks their fifth of the season, leaving them with little margin for error as they now sit at the bottom of the table. With only four games remaining, they are on the brink of elimination and must win their next matches to stay alive in the competition.
