LAH VS PES MATCH 15

That is it then from this game but the action in the Pakistan Super League continues on Monday, the 27th of January with Lahore Qalandars back in action, this time against Islamabad United at the same venue. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Cheers!

Shaheen Afridi, the Lahore Qalandars skipper says that the credit goes to our batters. Adds that it was a green wicket and everybody would've wanted to bowl first. Mentions about their strong bowling.  Lauds Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman for their effort with the bat. Adds that Sam Billings has made the middle order strong. Mentions that it is difficult to replicate their last year's performance but they will try to give their best. Closes out by saying that he is happy with the 5 wickets and wants to continue this momentum.

Fakhar Zaman, the Man of the Match for his knock of 96 off 45 says that they practiced for three days prior to the game, had planned to not give wickets in the powerplay, and score quickly later on which they executed very well.  Adds that their target was to get near 160-170 as they have a strong bowling attack. Credits Abdullah Shafique for his knock who got going early and took the pressure off him. Mentions that the team combination is well and they have a deep batting line-up. Closes by saying that he tries to play his natural game and it is paying off well for him.

Babar Azam, skipper of Peshawar Zalmi says that the way they started was good but when the opposition batters put on the pressure, they lost the plot a bit, and 242 to win in a game is very difficult. Adds that Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Saim Ayub put on a good partnership but they lost the game with the ball. Mentions that they needed to execute their plans well and in franchise cricket, they have to just move on.

Time for the post-match presentations...

Earlier in the day, Lahore Qalandars posted the third-highest total in the history of PSL as they clobbered their way through to 241 for 3 in their 20 overs. Fakhar Zaman was the top scorer with 96 off just 45. Abdullah Shafique played a terrific knock as well as he slammed 75 off 41 with Sam Billings providing the finishing touches with a quickfire 47* off 23. There was not much to talk about the Peshawar Zalmi bowling as they were taken all around the park and gave away over 12 r.p.o in the innings. Wahab Riaz was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets while Arshad Iqbal bowled a tidy spell. An off day in the field for Peshawar Zalmi.

Shaheen Afridi led from the front for the Lahore Qalandars and ended with figures of 5 for 40 in his spell. Zaman Khan was good too with his two wickets while Rashid Khan and Haris Rauf chipped in with a wicket each. An excellent effort in the field for Lahore Qalandars gets them the third win of the season in their fourth encounter.

An outstanding win for the Lahore Qalandars as they beat the Peshawar Zalmi by 40 runs in their first home game this season. We've had an absolute run-fest in this game and over 840 runs were scored in this encounter. Chasing 242 was always going to be a tough ask and Peshawar Zalmi started the chase poorly losing both their openers inside the first 3 overs. Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Saim Ayub counter-attacked the Qalandars and were scoring at almost 12 runs per over. The duo added 91 in just over 7 overs and got the chase back on track. Tom Kohler-Cadmore hammered a 22-ball fifty and was dismissed in the 11th over for 55 off 23 as Haris Rauf broke the stand. Saim Ayub got to his fifty and was dismissed soon after for 51. Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Rovman Powell tried hard but it was always going to be a steep ask for the batters. The lower order got some boundaries at the end and got Peshawar Zalmi over the 200-run mark. They ended on 201 for 9 losing the game by 40 runs.

That's it, its all over! Hussain Talat digs in a short one and gets it at a good height as well. Salman Irshad looks to hook but gets hurried on and gets a blow on the helmet. Irshad is fine and Lahore Qalandars win the game by 40 runs!

Very full and around middle, this is lofted over mid on for a single.

Full and outside off, lookd to drill it down the ground but misses.

Another dot ball! Good length around off stump, Iqbal with yet another big heave but he only connects with thin air.

Length again around the pads, Iqbal with another swing and a miss as the ball goes off the pads ontyo the leg side.

Hussain Talat starts off with a slower one, on a good length and outside off. Arshad Iqbal has a swing across the line but misses.

Pitched up on middle and leg, blocked out.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! And the answer to the previous question is ye, he can! Shaheen Afridi with a five-wicket haul to savour. This is bowled a bit shorter and outside off stump. It is there to be hit and James Neesham goes after it. Neesham only manages to get an outside edge that is pouched safely by Sam Billings behind the sticks.

Can Shaheen Afridi get that elusive five-wicket haul?