By our correspondent
LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars roared back into Pakistan Super League contention on Wednesday night with a blistering all-round performance that left Islamabad United in tatters. Defending a daunting target of 209, Lahore’s bowlers tore through Islamabad’s top and middle order to register a thumping 88-run win — a result that not only lifted Qalandars’ momentum in the business end of the tournament but also snapped United’s five-match winning streak.
What began as an ambitious Islamabad decision to bowl first quickly spiraled into a miscalculation, as Lahore’s batting lineup found rhythm and rampage in equal measure. Fakhar Zaman played the role of innings-setter with a composed 44 from 30 deliveries, while Mohammad Naeem offered useful support with 25 off 22. But it was the brutal late surge by Sikandar Raza and Sam Billings that turned a strong total into a monstrous one. Raza’s fiery 39 off just 17 deliveries, paired with Billings’ unbeaten 38 off 17, shredded Islamabad’s death bowling and lifted Lahore to a formidable 209 for six.
With scoreboard pressure looming large, Islamabad’s chase stumbled early and never recovered. Despite flashes of resistance from Andries Gous, who struck a lively 41, and a fighting 36 from Salman Agha, the innings unravelled with alarming speed. The fall of Azam Khan and captain Shadab Khan in quick succession left United vulnerable and exposed the tail long before the final act was due.
Haris Rauf delivered a blistering spell of fast bowling, claiming 4 for 31, as he dismantled the middle and lower order with signature aggression and pace. Sikandar Raza wasn’t done yet either — his off-spin proved lethal on a responsive surface, finishing with figures of 3 for 20. With Shaheen Shah Afridi and Tom Curran adding pressure from both ends, Islamabad folded meekly for 121 in 16.5 overs.
