Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United: A raucous Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore witnessed a masterclass from Sikandar Raza as the Lahore Qalandars stormed to an 88-run victory over Islamabad United in the 19th match of the Pakistan Super League 2025.

The Zimbabwean star produced a spectacular all-round performance, smashing 39 off just 17 balls before dismantling the United batting with figures of 3 for 20. Put into bat, Lahore Qalandars piled on a daunting 209 for 6 in their 20 overs.

Punishing an erratic United bowling attack. In reply, Islamabad folded meekly for 121 in 16.5 overs, never quite finding any rhythm in their chase.

Match Summary: LQ vs IU, PSL 2025

• Match: Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United, 19th Match
• Toss: Islamabad United won the toss and chose to bowl first.
• Lahore Qalandars: 209/6 (20 overs)
• Islamabad United: 121 all out (16.5 overs)
• Result: Lahore Qalandars won by 88 runs
• Player of the Match: Sikandar Raza for his explosive 39 (17) and 3/20 with the ball.

Match Highlights:

Lahore Qalandars Innings:

• Fakhar Zaman set the tone with a fluent 44 off 30 balls, hitting five boundaries and two sixes.
• Mohammad Naeem (25 off 22) and Abdullah Shafique (22 off 17) chipped in with handy contributions up top.
• Daryl Mitchell scored a brisk 28 off 18 before the late-innings fireworks.
• Sam Billings blasted 38* off 17 balls, while Sikandar Raza unleashed carnage with 39 off just 17, smashing three sixes and three fours.
• The Qalandars scored 64 runs in the final 4 overs to cross the 200-run mark.

Islamabad United Bowling:

• Imad Wasim was the most effective bowler, finishing with 2/26 in 3 overs.
• Jason Holder (2/54) and Ben Dwarshuis (1/51) bore the brunt of Lahore's late onslaught.
• Shadab Khan bowled economically (0/27), but lacked penetration.
• Overall, United's bowlers were erratic and expensive, conceding nine wides and two no-balls.

Islamabad United Innings:

• Andries Gous top-scored with 41 off 27, striking three sixes, and Salman Agha added 36 off 25.
• The rest of the line-up collapsed around them, with no other batter crossing 15 runs.
• Azam Khan was trapped LBW for 1, and Jason Holder fell first ball to Haris Rauf.
• The innings unraveled quickly, slipping from 80/1 to 121 all out in under seven overs.

Lahore Qalandars Bowling:

• Haris Rauf was fiery and accurate, claiming 4/31 in 3.5 overs.
• Sikandar Raza was equally effective with his off-spin, taking 3/20, including the key wickets of Salman Agha and Shadab Khan.
• Tom Curran, Asif Afridi, and Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up a wicket each.
• Lahore's bowling was disciplined and aggressive, complemented by sharp fielding and pressure bowling.

Fireworks with the Bat

The Qalandars' innings was a display of power-hitting mixed with calculated aggression. Fakhar Zaman provided a typically brisk start with 44 from 30 balls, peppering the field with five boundaries and a couple of sixes. He and Mohammad Naeem (25 off 22) added 50 for the opening stand before the latter was run out in the sixth over.

Abdullah Shafique (22) and Daryl Mitchell (28 off 18) kept the tempo going before the real carnage began. In the final five overs, Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza launched an all-out assault on United's bowlers. The Englishman Billings stayed unbeaten on 38 off just 17 balls, lacing his knock with one four and four towering sixes.

Raza, too, was in no mood to spare anyone, dispatching three sixes and three fours in his 39-run blitz, scored at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 229.41. "It's always special when you can contribute with both bat and ball. I just wanted to express myself," Raza said post-match.

The duo added a devastating 64-run partnership off just 24 deliveries, propelling Lahore past the 200-run mark. Islamabad's bowlers were left bruised and baffled, with Jason Holder's figures of 2 for 54 and Ben Dwarshuis' 1 for 51 reflecting the damage inflicted.

United in Disarray

Faced with a stiff target, Islamabad never got going. Sahibzada Farhan fell early to Shaheen Shah Afridi, and though Andries Gous showed some spark with 41 off 27 balls, including three sixes, wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals.

Salman Agha offered brief hope with a 36-run knock, but his dismissal by Raza in the 10th over marked the beginning of the end. Azam Khan's stay was short-lived, trapped LBW by Haris Rauf for 1. Haider Ali and skipper Shadab Khan both fell trying to force the pace, and from 80 for 1, United slid to 121 all out.

Rauf, steaming in with pace and purpose, finished with excellent figures of 4 for 31. Raza's crafty off-spin snared three wickets, including Shadab and the dangerous Ben Dwarshuis. Tom Curran and Asif Afridi chipped in with a wicket apiece, while Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi led with intensity and aggression.

United were bowled out with 19 balls to spare, reflecting their inability to mount any serious resistance. The middle and lower order crumbled under scoreboard pressure, and even the seasoned Jason Holder could not offer a rearguard, dismissed for a golden duck.

Turning Point: Raza's Twin Strike

At 80 for 1 in the 9th over, United still had a glimmer of hope. But Sikandar Raza's spell ended any such thoughts. He first castled Salman Agha, then had Shadab Khan caught in the deep, and later dismissed Dwarshuis. In the space of three overs, Raza swung the match firmly in Lahore's favour.

His Player of the Match performance summed up the night: impactful, composed, and brimming with flair.