• Lahore Qalandars beats Peshawar Zalmi by 40 runs.
• It was led by Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
• Lahore batted first and set a 242-run target before limiting Peshawar to 201 runs in 20 overs.

Lahore Qalandars defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 40 runs in the 15th match of the ongoing eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, led by Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Lahore batted first and set a mammoth 242-run target before limiting Peshawar to 201 runs in 20 overs, thanks to an outstanding batting display from Fakhar and Abdullah Shafique and a five-wicket haul from Shaheen.

After losing both openers, Peshawar Zalmi had a good partnership from Saim Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore in reply to the big total.

Shaheen Shah Afridi gave Lahore the best possible start against Peshawar. On the second ball of his first over, Shaheen bowled out Mohammad Haris with a sensational yorker.

In his second over, the left-arm pacer struck again, dismissing Peshawar skipper Babar Azam with a magnificent in-swinging delivery. Babar had to leave after only seven runs.

Following Babar’s departure, Saim Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore put on an incredible 91-run partnership off 44 balls.

Cadmore, on the other hand, was dismissed by Haris Rauf after scoring 55 runs off 23 balls.

Saim was the next batter to be caught by Abdullah Shafique after attempting to take on Rashid Khan. In 34 balls, the left-handed batter scored 51 runs.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa (24) and Rovman Powell (20) then put on a 39-run stand before being dismissed by Zaman Khan, reducing Peshawar to 166-5.

In the same over, Zaman struck again, bowling Powell out with a slow delivery.

In his third over, Shaheen took his third wicket. Wahab Riaz was sent back to the pavilion to get a duck.

The left-armer claimed another in his last over, toppling Saad Masood’s wicket with a fiery delivery.

Shaheen finished his five-wicket haul by dismissing James Neesham, who attempted to take on the pacer but was caught behind.

Earlier, Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman shone as Lahore Qalandars set Peshawar Zalmi a mammoth 242-run target.

Abdullah and Fakhar put on a massive 120-run second-wicket stand to help Lahore Qalandars overcome an early setback and take control of the game against Peshawar.

Abdullah, who is making his PSL 8 debut, wreaked havoc, scoring 75 runs off only 41 balls. The right-handed batter hit five home runs and five maximums.

He’s got all the shots 🌟

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What a way to bring up his half-century 👏#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvPZ pic.twitter.com/aqNVAFw7RO

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2023

Wahab, who claimed his second wicket, dismissed the 23-year-old.

But the onslaught continued as Sam Billings quickly settled in and began hitting boundaries with Fakhar.

Fakhar was outstanding against Peshawar. The left-handed batter hit boundaries and maximums at will, scoring 96 runs off 45 balls with three boundaries and ten maximums. In the 18th over, he was bowled out by Rovman Powell.

Billings, the wicket-keeper batter, scored 47 runs off 23 balls, including five boundaries and three maximums.

Wahab Riaz made an early breakthrough for Peshawar by dismissing Qalandars opener Tahir Baig. The first batter managed only five runs on seven balls.

Early strike! 🎯@WahabViki wins the battle with a cracking delivery 👏#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvPZ pic.twitter.com/haLJmSc4GJ

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2023

Wahab took two wickets for Peshawar, while Powell took one.

Previously, Lahore Qalandars won the toss and chose to bat first against Peshawar Zalmi.

Lahore and Peshawar are currently ranked fourth and fifth, with four points each.

Shaheen Shah Afridi is leading the defending champions Lahore, while Babar Azam is the captain of Peshawar Zalmi.

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Lahore Qalandars set a 242-run target against Peshawar Zalmi. Led by Abdullah...