Kusal Perera, Sikandar Raza star in record chase to take Qalandars to PSL title
The two helped Lahore Qalandars chase down 202 with a ball to spare in an electrifying PSL final against Quetta Gladiators
The two helped Lahore Qalandars chase down 202 with a ball to spare in an electrifying PSL final against Quetta Gladiators
Commentator: Rvel Zahid
It's been a pleasure bringing you coverage throughout this exhilarating PSL season over the past month and a half. We hope you enjoyed all the thrilling action. I, Rvel Zahid, sign off on behalf of the entire team at ESPNcricinfo. Curtains down. Goodnight, and take good care of yourself!
Saud Shakeel, Quetta Gladiators Captain: It was an amazing journey but we couldn't finish in the crunch moments. A lot of credit to the management and players and we got all the support from management but there will be a regret that we couldn't get over the line. If you post a good total, there's always an upper hand but credit to their batters, they matched the asking rate. Raza and Perera did so well and they deserved it. Hasan Nawaz showed strong character even though he was not batting at his original number but he adjusted and it shows how talented he is and how well he adapted and it's a great sign for Pakistan cricket. Viv Richard presence is always great and his support his phenomenal
Shaheen Afridi, Lahore Qalandars: Credit to the boys and Sameen and Atif for their support and work throughout the year and for their efforts in the Players' Development Program. Crowd came in big numbers and supported which was brilliant for us. (On Naeem) He is a brilliant talent and there are more in the squad who didn't get a chance and hope he can represent Pakistan one day. I thought 180-190 was expected but the wicket was good and we focused on playing normal cricket shots and backed ourselves to chase it down. Kusal played a great innings and think we should give a lot of credit to Raza. He played a match yesterday and made it here in Lahore just in time, credit to his family. I told him that you came here for a purpose which is to help us win the trophy. If your team needs you then you must deliver at the big stage. If you are a captain then there are even more expectations, and I wanted to bowl with discipline and it paid off
Player of the Match: Kusal Perera
Kusal Perera: At that time we had to take risk and it paid off. Me and Raza calculated and assessed the situation and Raza played a big part. It's a brilliant franchise, and environment, players and owners had a good conversation before the match
Hasan Nawaz: It's really special for me, as an emerging player, you win player of the tournament, it's really a proud moment for me. Whatever time we got for practice, I worked on my shortcomings, saw my videos and worked on my technique. At start, we lost two wickets, spin was coming nicely onto the bat and I wanted to target the spinners, it came off well. Management always supported and we wanted to win the final but unfortunately it couldn't happen.
Player of the tournament: Hasan Nawaz
Asif Yaqoob: Umpire of the tournament
Emerging Player of the Tournament trophy: Muhammad Naeem (Lahore Qalandars)
Avishka Fernando gets the catch of the match award
Shaheen Afridi wins the leading wicket-taker award
Sahibzada Farhan wins the leading run-scorer award
Hasan Nawaz, who scored 399 runs, wins the batter of the tournament award
Shaheen Afridi: Bowler of the tournament
Abdul Samad: Fielder of the tournament
Sikandar Raza, of Lahore Qalandars, wins the all-rounder of the tournament award
'There were n-number of performances that might have deserved to win this final, but in the end it was Kusal Perera and Sikandar Raza that earned the honour of being swarmed wildly by their team-mates into the midnight Lahore sky, as Lahore Qalandars edged Quetta Gladiators in an electrifying PSL final.' More from Madushka Balasuriya's match report Kusal Perera, Sikandar Raza take Lahore Qalandars to title with record chase
The entire Lahore Qalandars team is out on the field, jumping on Sikandar Raza, who's just won them the title! Fireworks light up the sky; what a final this was! It was no one-sided affair; right till the end, no one could say which team had the upper hand. Both teams fought neck and neck. But once again, Lahore found a way; they just keep winning titles. Their energy tonight was on another level, led superbly by their captain. Yes, they leaked quite a few runs at the death but they bat deep and had enough quality in their ranks to get over the line. Even without Daryl Mitchell, they made it work with the resources available and looked the calmer, more composed side tonight. Quetta will have to wait again. They'll rue this golden opportunity, still without a title since 2019. A bitter pill to swallow. Amir was a bit scruffy at the death while Perera was superb; he played one of the best knocks of his career. And Raza? He did Raza things. The man for a crisis, he loves the spotlight and thrives under pressure. The entire team is now on a victory lap. This was the highest successful chase in any PSL final. Commiserations to the Gladiators and huge congratulations to the Qalandars! Third time Lahore Qalandars have won PSL and that too under the captaincy of Shaheen Afridi
Celebrations will continue late into the night in Lahore's camp as well as in the buzzing streets of the city. Lahore backed their strengths, kept their belief and didn't get flustered in the crunch moments. Absolutely wild scenes were witnessed at the ground after Raza hit the winning shot
Presentation ceremony coming up next
Smartush: "That 2nd last over from Amir was a total disappointment, but for Sikandar Raza there is a saying "whatever happens, happens for a reason". England finishing their test match early, Raza taking a flight, winning a final.. a story worth to tell to the upcoming generation."
Fahim Mahi: "SIKANDAR RAZA, YOU ABSOLUTE BEAUTY! What a story, came just 10 minutes before the match and delivered a game-changing innings, finishing it in style. Simply incredible!"
Muzahid: "Shoutout to England cricket team for ending the test match in 3days that allowed Raza to be available for this match!"
Uzair Mir : "Sikandar - truly a Sikandar. Battled hard to prevent an innings defeat yesterday, less than 24 hours later plays a blinder to give Lahore their third title. "
Muqeet: "Quetta must have been thinking if Raza could have been late by just 10 mins today before toss."
Saad Mubashar: "Full marks for LQ for getting Sikandar Raza back, literally minutes before the start of the game. What a story!
obaid: "which team win, it doesn't matter now. we are experiencing a textbook final.. see-saw"
The Lahore Qalandars batter played for the franchise as an emerging player, but his registration appears to have contravened the PSL's own rules
Kusal Perera, with just four appearances, gets a mention
The Lahore Qalandars management understands it and the PCB is just beginning to appreciate it
Lahore Qalandars had prepared two team sheets, one with Raza and the other without, and was eventually able to include him
Twenty-four hours after battling through a Test match in England, Zimbabwean lands decisive blow in Pakistan