Lahore Qalandars kicked off PSL 11 in style with a dominant 69-run victory over debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The defending champions posted a formidable 199/6, thanks to a fluent fifty from Fakhar Zaman, and then dismantled the Kingsmen for just 130 runs.
Electing to bat first, Qalandars recovered from a brief top-order wobble with an explosive 84-run opening stand between Fakhar and Mohammad Naeem. Naeem contributed a brisk 30 off 19 balls before falling to Hassan Khan. Fakhar continued his assault, smashing 53 off 39 deliveries, laced with nine boundaries, before being dismissed by Hassan.
The middle order stabilized with Haseebullah Khan anchoring the innings. He remained unbeaten on 40 off 28 balls, supported by Sikandar Raza’s fiery cameo of 24 off 10, which included two sixes and two fours. Parvez Hossain Emon added 14, while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Asif Ali chipped in with useful runs at the death.
In response, Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled under pressure. Captain Marnus Labuschagne top-scored with 26 off 22, while tailender Riley Meredith added an unbeaten 19. Only three other batters reached double figures, highlighting the team’s batting collapse.
Qalandars’ bowlers were clinical. Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza, and Ubaid Shah each claimed two wickets, while Shaheen Afridi and Mustafizur Rahman took one apiece. Their disciplined effort ensured Kingsmen were bowled out in the final over.
Fakhar Zaman was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock. The victory sets the tone for Qalandars’ title defense, while Kingsmen will need to regroup quickly.
Next up, Karachi Kings face Quetta Gladiators on Friday in what promises to be another thrilling encounter in the PSL 11 season.
