Lahore Qalandars Crush Islamabad United by 95 Runs to Reach PSL Final – Rishad Hossain Stars with 3 Wickets

Lahore Qalandars stormed into the final of PSL 2025 with a comprehensive 95-run victory over Islamabad United. While Shakib Al Hasan went wicketless, fellow Bangladeshi Rishad Hossain tore through Islamabad’s middle order, claiming 3 wickets for 34 runs in 3 overs.

In this crucial qualifier, Lahore brought back both Shakib and Rishad into the playing XI. After winning the toss, Shaheen Shah Afridi opted to bat first, and the Qalandars posted a solid 202 for 8. Shakib was dismissed for a duck after facing just two deliveries in the final over, while Rishad added 5 runs off the last two balls.

Chasing 203, Islamabad’s top order collapsed under the fierce pace of Shaheen Afridi and Salman Mirza, slumping to 33 for 4 within the powerplay. Shakib bowled 3 overs, conceding 27 runs but failed to pick up a wicket.

Just like the previous match, Shakib bowled after the powerplay, conceding 9 runs in his first over. In the next over, Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan targeted Rishad for 14 runs, but the leg-spinner bounced back in style. In his second over, he dismissed a threatening Salman Ali Agha. In his third over, despite conceding two sixes, Rishad took two key wickets: Shadab Khan and Jimmy Neesham, the latter via a sharp return catch.

Shaheen Afridi then cleaned up the tail, picking up the last two wickets to bowl out Islamabad United for 107. Afridi finished with 3 wickets for just 3 runs in 3.1 overs, equaling the tally of Rishad and Salman Mirza.

With this dominant performance, Lahore Qalandars now head to the PSL 2025 final, where they will face Quetta Gladiators on May 25.