PSL: Lahore beat Multan by one run in a thrilling final to retain the title

The Lahore Kalanders clinched back-to-back Pakistan Super League titles as they beat Multan Sultans by just one run in a thrilling final on Saturday.

With Multan needing four runs off the last ball – bowled by Zaman Khan – Khosdel Shah was run out while trying the third over that would have leveled Lahore’s total of 200-6.

Instead, Multan finished on 199-8 to see them lose to Lahore again in a repeat of last year’s final. Qalanders are the first team in PSL history to retain the title.

Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was impressive throughout, securing player of the match honors after smashing five sixes for two units in Moharib’s 44 not out 15 balls at the end of Lahore’s innings, and then following the left-handed bowler. This with four wickets in the final finish figures of 4-51.

Shaheen’s initial efforts with the bat helped propel Lahore to what has just proven to be a match winning result. When he got to the crease, Callanders were reeling at 111-4 after a series of four wickets for 17 runs in the space of three overs – Kent and England’s Sam Billings, among them, for nine.

But Shaheen and Abdullah Shafiq, who painted the innings superbly with 65 off 40 balls, proceeded to plunder an astonishing 85 from their last five overs to shoot Lahore to 200.

In reply, Riley Rosseau (52 off 32 balls) hit a fine fifty to keep Multan on top of the required run rate, although Mohamed Rizwan (34 off 23), Kieron Pollard (19 off 16) and Tim David (20 off 16) had their moments. However, a steady stream of wickets made things increasingly difficult for the Sultans – Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who was leading 2-26.

That was until Khoshdil (25 from 12 overs) and Abbas Afridi (17 not out from 6) hit fast bowlers Haris Rauf for 22 runs in the penultimate over, leaving 13 required off the last six balls.

But Zaman and Lahore eventually held their nerve in front of 25,000 fans to give the home team the victory.