LAHORE:Defending champions Lahore Qalandars made a powerful statement on the opening night of the 11th season of the HBL Pakistan Super League, posting a commanding 199 for six before dismantling debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen for just 130 to secure a convincing 69-run victory at Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday.

Fakhar Zaman provided the perfect launchpad with a brisk 53 off 39 deliveries, studded with 10 boundaries. Mohammad Naeem chipped in with a lively 30 off 19, but it was the lower order that turned the game into a one-sided affair.

Haseebullah Khan remained unbeaten on 40 off 28 balls, while Sikandar Raza blasted 24 off just 10 deliveries. Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi capped the innings in style with two successive sixes in the final over.

The Qalandars got off to a flying start as Fakhar and Naeem raced to 64 without loss in the powerplay. Fakhar looked in imperious form, punishing anything short or wide, and brought up his 24th PSL fifty in characteristic fashion. Naeem too played his shots freely, dispatching a massive six off Riley Meredith.

Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled to stem the flow of runs. Akif Javed and Meredith were expensive early on, while part-time spinner Saim Ayub and Marnus Labuschagne could not contain the aggressive batting. Lahore reached 94 for two in the 10th over after losing Naeem to Hassan Khan and suffering a needless run-out of Abdullah Shafique.

Fakhar’s departure shortly afterwards for 53 left the Qalandars at 97 for three.

Parvez Hossain Emon (14) and Haseebullah steadied matters before the death overs witnessed a spectacular surge. Raza smashed two sixes and two fours, Asif Ali cleared the ropes once, and Shaheen’s explosive finish helped the defending champions plunder 80 runs from the last six overs. The Kingsmen’s bowling and fielding left much to be desired in the closing stages.

Hassan Khan emerged as the most successful Kingsmen bowler with figures of 2-30, while Meredith picked up two wickets. However, their poor over-rate and several fielding lapses proved costly.

In pursuit of 200, the Kingsmen began brightly but soon found themselves in trouble. Shaheen drew first blood, dismissing Usman Khan for nine via a controversial caught-behind decision. Ubaid Shah then accounted for Saim Ayub (17), and the middle order collapsed under sustained pressure.

Raza was the star with the ball, claiming two vital wickets including the scalp of captain Marnus Labuschagne, who was brilliantly caught and bowled for 26. Haris Rauf and Mustafizur Rahman bowled tightly, while Ubaid returned impressive figures of 2-27.

The Kingsmen kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could never build any momentum. Brief cameos from Hassan (14) and Hammad Azam (10) were not enough as the asking rate climbed rapidly. Meredith battled till the end with an unbeaten 19, but the innings folded in the final over as Mohammad Ali was run out.

The Qalandars’ attack looked formidable throughout. The pace trio of Shaheen (1-28), Haris Rauf (2-22) and Mustafizur (1-19), complemented by Raza’s two wickets for 27, proved too much for the new franchise. The surface offered decent pace and occasional grip, which the home side exploited well.

This dominant win gives Lahore Qalandars an ideal start to their title defence. For Hyderabad Kingsmen, playing their maiden PSL match, it was a harsh reality check. They will need to regroup swiftly for the challenges ahead.

The match was played in empty stands, a reflection of the decision to stage the tournament behind closed doors this season.

Scoreboard

LAHORE QALANDARS:
Fakhar Zaman c Saim b Hassan53
Mohammad Naeem c Rizwan b Hassan 30
Abdullah Shafique run out4
Parvez Hossain c Rizwan b Meredith14
Haseebullah Khan not out40
Sikandar Raza c Saim b Meredith24
Asif Ali b Ali9
Shaheen Shah Afridi not out12

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, NB-2, W-6)13
TOTAL (for six wickets, 20 overs)199
DID NOT BAT: Haris Rauf, Mustafizur Rahman, Ubaid Shah
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-84 (Naeem), 2-94 (Abdullah), 3-94 (Fakhar), 4-131 (Parvez), 5-176 (Raza), 6-187 (Asif)
BOWLING: Meredith 4-0-39-2 (5w), Akif 2-0-18-0, Ayub 4-0-31-0 (1nb), Ali 3-0-50-1 (1w, 1nb), Hassan 4-0-30-2, Labuschagne 3-0-26-0

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN:
Saim Ayub c Asif b Ubaid17
Usman Khan c Haseebullah b Shaheen 9
Marnus Labuschagne c&b Raza26
Kusal Perera lbw b Raza1
Irfan Khan c Ubaid b Mustafizur4
Rizwan Mehmood b Haris8
Hassan Khan c Haseebullah b Haris14
Hammad Azam b Ubaid10
Riley Meredith not out19
Akif Javed run out1
Mohammad Ali run out10

EXTRAS (LB-7, NB-1, W-3)11
TOTAL (all out, 20 overs)130
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-25 (Usman), 2-33 (Saim), 3-49 (Perera), 4-59 (Irfan), 5-65 (Labuschagne), 6-84 (Hassan), 7-95 (Rizwan), 8-101 (Hammad), 9-107 (Akif)
BOWLING: Shaheen 4-0-28-1, Ubaid 4-0-27-2 (1w), Mustafizur 4-0-19-1 (1w, 1nb), Raza 4-0-27-2 (1w), Haris 4-0-22-2RESULT: Lahore Qalandars won by 69 runs. MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Fakhar Zaman

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2026