rishads Rawalpindi Eliminated from PSL

Lahore Qalandars finally returned to winning ways thanks to a brilliant knock from Fakhar Zaman and a disciplined bowling performance. They defeated Rawalpindiz by 32 runs, ending a three-match losing streak, while Rishad Hossain’s side has been knocked out of the tournament.

It has not been an easy PSL campaign for Lahore Qalandars. However, their match against Rawalpindiz turned into the perfect stage to regain confidence. Although it was a clash between the bottom two teams on the table, the difference in performance on the field was quite evident.

After losing the toss, Lahore came out aggressively with the bat. Mohammad Farooq’s explosive batting in the powerplay laid a strong foundation. His 63-run innings kept finding boundaries and piled pressure on the opposition.

Fakhar Zaman, after taking some time to settle, found his rhythm and played a superb innings. He scored 84 off 54 balls, hitting 11 fours and a six. Riding on his innings, Lahore posted their highest total of the season—210 runs.

In reply, Rawalpindiz had a disastrous start. They lost two quick wickets against the pace of Shaheen Shah Afridi. However, Yasir Khan kept fighting from one end. His blistering 58 off just 29 balls briefly raised hopes.

But with no support from the other end, that hope faded quickly. After a slow innings from Daryl Mitchell, the partnership broke and triggered a collapse. Rawalpindiz lost six wickets for just 46 runs, effectively ending the contest.

A late flourish from Saad Masood, who scored a 21-ball fifty, reduced the margin somewhat, but the match was already beyond reach. Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, and Sikandar Raza ensured a comfortable win for Lahore with their bowling.

While this victory brings some relief for Lahore on the points table, the story ends here for Rawalpindiz. Mathematically, they are the first team to be eliminated from this year’s tournament.