Sports Desk
LAHORE: Multan Sultans on Wednesday qualified for the final of the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after defeating Lahore Qalandars in a thrilling qualifier at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore today.
Chasing the target of 161 runs, Lahore were rolled over for only 76 runs in 14.3 overs.
Lahore lost Mirza Tahir Baig (8) early after Sheldon Cottrell enticed a huge swipe from the batter, who edged one through to Rizwan.
Cottrell struck in the same over to trap Abdullah Shafique (0) in front of the stumps.
Lahore were hoping that opener and star batter Fakhar Zaman would lead the run-chase but that was not the case after the left-hander was clean-bowled by an inswinger from Anwar Ali. He scored six runs in seven balls.
Cottrell also sent Shaheen Shah Afridi packing for a duck in the fifth over of the match.
Hussain Talat (4) was sent back to the hut after a direct hit from Usman Khan left him short of the crease.
Sikandar Raza (0) also departed soon after as Abbas Afridi took a stunning catch in the deep on the bowling of Kieron Pollard. This left Qalandars reeling at 43-6 in the 10th over.
The remaining wickets also fell without much resistance as Multan completed a comprehensive victory over the defending champions.
Cottrell was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-20 in three overs.
