PSL 2022: Mohammad Hafeez powers Lahore Qalandars past Multan Sultans to maiden title with all-round show

Lahore Qalandar’s win means all six HBL PSL franchises have now lifted the trophy at least once, Islamabad United is the only side to win two titles (2016 and 2018). 

Lahore Qalandars overcame the hurt and disappointment spread over six Pakistan Super League seasons by lifting the glittering Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 trophy in front of 27,000 adoring Lahore spectators (houseful) at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday (February 27) night as Multan Sultans’ dream of becoming the first team to successfully defend a PSL title was shattered with a 42-run defeat. Qalandars – losing finalists in HBL PSL 5, finished last in the first four seasons and fifth in HBL PSL 6 but chose the perfect setting to not only lift the trophy but also to pocket Rs 80 million while providing incredible joy and memories of a lifetime to their fans in their own backyard.

Batting second, Sultans were never quite in the hunt in their 181-run chase once their prolific opening partnership of Mohammad Rizwan (14) and Shan Masood (19) was dismantled. Mohammad Hafeez (player of the match) who produced his best innings with the bat of the season in the all-important final made a telling contribution with the ball by bowling Rizwan before Fakhar Zaman produced a sensational bit of fielding to run out Shan after the opener was stranded in the middle of the pitch following a misunderstanding with his partner Aamer Azmat.

Fakhar, moments later, took a fine tumbling catch to end Aamer’s (6) innings. Sultans kept losing wickets at regular intervals against some high octane Qalandars bowling. Tim David’s dismissal for 27 courtesy another sensational catch by Fakhar on the first ball of the 17th over bowled by Qalandars talismanic captain Shaheen Shah Afridi finished the game for Sultans with Shaheen bowling David Willey (0) on the fourth ball of the same over with an unplayable yorker.

Khushdil (32) was dismissed by Haris Rauf in the next over while Shaheen castled Rumman Raees (6), Imran Tahir’s (10) dismissal in the final over to David Weise sparked celebrations in the Qalandars dugout and the entire stadium.

The Eagle strikes. #HBLPSL7 l #LevelHai l #MSvLQ I #HBLPSLFinal pic.twitter.com/cXf7YW2UvI