Twitter Reactions: Lahore Qalandars go top with crushing win over Islamabad United

Lahore Qalandars. (Photo Source: Photo by FAROOQ NAEEM)

Lahore Qalandars continued their good start to the season with a dominating 110-run win over in-form Islamabad United in the 16th match of Pakistan Super League 2023 on Monday (February 27). The reigning champions posted a massive total of 200/7 batting first, with Abdullah Shafique top-scoring with 45 off 24. Then Namibian all-rounder David Wiese shone with the ball to restrict the United to just 90 runs to guide the Qalandars to the top of the points table.

Shaheen Afridi won the toss and elected to bat first with no changes to the playing XI that posted 241 runs against Peshawar Zalmi a day before. English pacer Tom Curran returned to starting eleven for the United, who beat Quetta Gladiators in their last game.

Shaheen’s decision to bat first proved fruitful as openers Mirza Baig and Fakhar Zaman pulled off a quick 58-run stand. The United captain Shadab Khan gave his team the first success with Mirza’s wicket in the seventh over while Curran bowled out Fakhar in the next over to balance the game.

But Shafique put the United under pressure with another crucial knock of 45 off 24 and Sam Billings added 33 off 23 to ensure a big total for the Qalandars. The lower order also contributed with quick cameo knocks as the Qalandars scored 200/7. Curran took three wickets and Shadab bagged two but they never seemed in control of the game.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Colin Munro gave the United a steady start with a 41-run partnership for the opening wicket. However, Zaman Khan dismissed Gurbaz in the fourth over and that was enough to put pressure on the United.

Wiese took Munro’s big wicket in the sixth over and then the batters struggled against United’s impressive bowling spells. Wiese bagged two more valuable wickets of Shadab and Azam Khan in his next two successive overs to ensure an early win for the Qalandars.

Rashid Khan and Sikandar Raza killed the game with two wickets each as the United stumbled on just 90 runs in 13.5 overs. The win has boosted the Qalandars to the top of the table with eight points from five games while Islamabad United slipped to third position in PSL 2023 table.

Here is how Twitter is reacting to Lahore Qalandars’ win over Islamabad United: