By our correspondent
LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars set up final clash with Quetta Gladiators when they dethroned Islamabad United by inflicting a huge 95-run defeat on them in the second Eliminator of the HBL PSL X at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Friday night.
Set to chase a tough target of 203 United failed to live up to the expectations and were folded for only 107 in 15.1 overs. Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi and spinner Rishad Hossain got three wickets each.
Earlier Kusal Perera and Mohammad Naeem blasted fine fifties to take Qalandars to a good total of 202-8.
Set to chase a tough total United batting completely failed to deliver and their wickets fell like ninepins.
Salman Ali Agha top-scored 26-ball 33, smashing four fours and one six.
Skipper Shadab Khan made a 14-ball 26 which featured three sixes and he was the only other batsman who entered into double figures after Agha Salman.
Unknown pacer Salman Mirza (3-16) once again did a terrific job by blowing the top order by taking the wickets of leading scorer of the event Sahibzada Farhan (3), Rassie van der Dussen (7) and Imad Wasim (8) to break the back of United.
Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain (3-34) was equally well by getting the crucial wickets of Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan and James Neesham (8) to put Qalandars in the final.
They were ably backed by skipper Shaheen Afridi who also produced amazing figures of 3-3 in 3.1 overs.
Earlier Kusal Perera (61) and Mohammad Naeem (50) struck fine fifties to enable Lahore Qalandars to pile-up a fighting total of 202-8.
After opting to bat first Lahore Qalandars lost in-form Fakhar Zaman early when he was dislodged by Tymal Mills in the second over of the innings for an 11-ball 12.
It was a rising delivery Fakhar went for a pull, top-edged and stumper Sahibzada Farhan took an easy catch.
Fakhar hit three fours in his brief knock.
However at this stage Mohammad Naeem pressed the pedal and managed a few superb strokes to unsettle the oppositions bowlers. However soon after he brought in his third fifty of the season off 24 balls. It was left-arm spinner Imad Wasim who had Naeem, stumped by Farhan after he hammered two sixes and seven fours in his fine knock.
Naeem added 70 runs off 42 balls for the second wicket partnership with Abdullah Shafique. Naeem was seen in his best when he smacked Naseem Shah for three exquisite fours and a six in the fifth over of the innings which yielded 18 runs. Abdullah Shafique also failed to go deep after the fall of Naeem and it was James Neesham who had him, held excellently by Shadab Khan at mid-off to leave Qalandars at 103-3 in the 12th over.
At this stage the Sri Lankan batsmen Kusal Perera and Bhanuka Rajapaksa showed responsibility and added 48 runs off just 22 balls for the fourth wicket association to boost Qalandars total.
It was medium pacer Salman Irshad who bowled Rajapaksa to break the dangerous stand.
Rajapaksa struck one six and two fours in his 13-ball 22.
Perera did extremely well and hammered some superb strokes to unsettle United’s bowlers during his precious stay at the crease. It was eventually Tymal Mills who bowled Perera in the final over of the innings after a solid knock. Perera smashed seven fours and two sixes in his 35-ball rapid 61.
Perera also smacked Naseem Shah for two sixes and one four in the 18th over of the innings which produced 21 runs.
Asif Ali used long handle and he also smashed Salman Irshad for two successive sixes in the penultimate over of the innings which yielded 17 runs. Asif Ali faced just seven balls for his 15.
Tymal Mills was the most impressive bowler as he finished with 3-42 in his quota of four overs. Salman Irshad got 2-40 in four overs.
Naseem Shah was once again remained expensive as he conceded 52 runs in his quota of four overs.
The final will be held on Sunday at the same venue between Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars. Both teams have reached the final for the fourth time.
Earlier Lahore Qalandars made one change by bringing in Bangladeshi spinner Rishad Hossain in place of Zaman Khan. United replaced Ben Dwarshuis with Tymal Mills and Mohammad Shahzad replaced Ghazi Ghori.
