LAHORE, Pakistan: Sikandar Raza hit the winning runs to seal the Pakistan Super League title for Lahore Qalandars on Sunday, having landed just 10 minutes before the toss after a mad dash from England.
The 39-year-old was carried off the field on the shoulders of his celebrating teammates after having jumped on a plane to Pakistan straight after Zimbabwe's innings defeat in the Nottingham Test on Saturday.
Raza hit 22 not out with two sixes and two fours to give the home team a thrilling six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators with one ball to spare.
"Had dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, drove to Abu Dhabi for lunch, took a flight and had dinner in Pakistan," said Raza, who scored a half-century in his country's heavy defeat to England.
"I guess this is the life of a professional cricketer, and I'm truly humbled and blessed to have that life."
Needing 13 off the last over to complete a 202-run chase, Raza struck a six and a four to help seal the title.
Sri Lankan Kusal Perera led the chase with an undefeated 31-ball 62 studded with five boundaries and four sixes, adding 59 runs during the unbroken fifth-wicket stand.
Opener Mohammad Naeem scored 46, with half a dozen sixes and one boundary, and Abdullah Shafique hit 41 to set Lahore on course to make the highest successful chase in a PSL final.
Lahore sealed their third title following triumphs in 2022 and 2023. Hasan Nawaz scored a brilliant 76 to lift Quetta to 201-9 after they won the toss and batted.
Coming in at 21-2, Nawaz added 67 for the fourth wicket with Avishka Fernando (29) and 46 with Dinesh Chandimal (22).
Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of Lahore's bowlers with 3-24. It was Faheem Ashraf (28) who lifted Quetta past 200, taking 23 off the last over from Salman Mirza.
The six-team PSL was suspended on May 9 following the conflict between Pakistan and India. The league resumed on May 17 after a ceasefire between the two countries. — AFP
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