Final, Lahore, March 18, 2023, 07:30 PM

200/6(20.0ov)
199/8(20.0ov)

Lahore Qalandars beat Multan Sultans by 1 run

Shaheen Afridi has been handed the PSL trophy for the second time in two consecutive years and his teammates now join him in the celebration with the trophy. It has been a fantastic season and it has been a pleasure to bring all the coverage of this 8th season of the PSL. Hope you enjoyed it! Till next time, it's goodbye and cheers!
Shaheen Afridi, the skipper of Lahore Qalandars starts by thanking the almighty and he credits his support staff and scouts at first to bring in some amazing talents to strengthen the team that has helped the team to defend the title. He adds that the game was a topsy-turvy one with both the team gaining momentum in different moments of this game and thanks to the almighty that we have won this game. He also adds that the aggression comes naturally as he is a fast bowler and he wanted to slog a few deliveries early on and it clicked for him and the team. He thanks the people of Pakistan and everyone who supported them.
Mohammad Rizwan, the skipper of Multan Sultans says that the final has its own pressure. Tells that the way the ball was coming on the bat, they felt that they could get to the total. Adds that they could not finish well and that made the difference. Mentions that the tournament is quite difficult with all quality teams and credits his team for the performance they have put on and applauds his pace attack for the way they bowled. Also applauds Lahore Qalandars for the way they played as a unit and says that the competition benefits Pakistan cricket as a whole.
Ihsanullah is the PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT! He becomes the first bowler in the history of the PSL to win this award. He says being the first-ever bowler to win the award means a lot and thanks the almighty for the blessing. He adds that the experience he has gained from this tournament is very crucial and this will add to his confidence going ahead in life. He ends up dedicating his trophy and the performances in this tournament to his father.
Shaheen Afridi, the skipper of Lahore Qalandars is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH.
Time for the Presentation...
Abdullah Shafique is now up for a chat. He says that all credit goes to the team management captain and players for defending the title. Tells that there was pressure to defend the title and credits his skipper for the way he backed the players and led from the front. He feels lucky to be part of the Lahore team.
Sam Billings is down for a quick chat now. He says that's what T-20 cricket is all about when you get great wickets like this. He adds that this is his first experience in Pakistan and the crowd did not disappoint at all. He adds that in a final the game always turns in one blink of an eye and today that moment was that wicket of Pollard, it did get close after that as well but feels happy to be on the victorious side. On next season he says he will be looking forward to next season if the franchise decides to keep him.
Sikandar Raza is down for a quick chat. He says that this is why you play the sport to get into the history books. Adds that they thought that the wicket was not 200 one but credits Shaheen and other batters for the way they batted. Mentions that they knew that one or two wickets here and there and they knew that with Rashid in the side, things could get difficult for Multan Sultans. Informs that eight different guys have won the player of the match and that tells about their quality. Mentions that they were facing criticism for changing their batting and bowling order but adds that they were preparing for the final. Signs off by saying that he would love to come again in the next season.
Zaman Khan, the hero of the last over is up for a chat now. He says that his heart was racing in the final over but the backing from the captain was really massive for him and he encouraged him that leave this to the almighty and they will win this and thanks to the almighty that they have emerged victorious. He adds that his plan was to bowl mixed deliveries like slower ones and pace on deliveries too and it worked perfectly.
David Wiese is down for a quick chat. He says that he is exhausted and he adds that fortunately, he was not the one bowling the last over. Mentions that momentum switched both ways and says that the team that stays calm is going to win and they were never out of the game. Tells that he is still enjoying the game and that as long as he is contributing he will continue to play.
Shaheen Afridi is down for a quick chat. He says that is happy about the second final and second title. Adds that the boys did well and they deserve all the credit for the victory. He adds that he leaked runs early on and was thinking that he would come up again in the second spell and take wickets back then. Closes by saying that thanks to the almighty and their parents that they have won this.
Multan Sultans, well, they should be proud of their effort here. They gave their all but it is all about small margins in T20 and the Sultans have once again ended up on the losing side on the night of the final. Their spinners bowled brilliantly in the middle overs to put Lahore Qalandars under the pump but they let things drift away in the death which proved costly in the end. They still were on their course in the run-chase when Rilee Rossouw and Rizwan were going great guns. However, the wicket of Rilee Rossouw in the 11th over changed things around and then the likes of Pollard and David failed to make much impact. They kept fighting though with Abbas Afridi and Khushdil Shah taking the game right down to the wire but just fell short by a single run in the end. They end up as a runners-up again and it is again the matters of being so close yet so far for Rizwan and his boys.
A lot of credit for this win goes to the skipper of Lahore Qalandars, Shaheen Afridi. The young man is just growing in stature with each passing year and this time he has shown that he can be a world-class all-rounder as well. He lifted his team to a total of 200 with a counterattacking cameo of 44 off just 15 balls. They were in a spot of a bother when he walked into bat but he and Abdullah Shafique powered them to a big total. In the second innings, Shaheen Afridi again stepped up with four wickets which included three in the 18th over to put his team right on top. Also, one must credit the whole bowling attack of Lahore Qalandars who showed once again why they are the best. Rashid Khan turned the game even with the wickets of Rizwan and Rilee Rossouw when they were taking the game away and once again the best bowling side in the competition has won the trophy.
Lahore Qalandars are the champions of the Pakistan Super League 2023! They have clinched this absolute thriller by the barest of margins! A game well and truly worthy of being called a finale of a competition like PSL. The crowd has gone wild and so are the players on the field. Crazy scenes here at the Gaddafi Stadium and these are just pure emotions of a highly competitive sport.
In over# 20
2W
4
2b
0
1lb
2
Zaman Khan 33/0(4)
19.6
W
OUT! RUN OUT! Yorker nailed to perfection, Khusdil squeezes this to deep mid-wicket and takes a couple and runs for the third but David Wiese was quick to release this at the non-striking end where Khushdil Shah has been run out by miles. Lahore Qalandars becomes the first-ever team to lift the PSL title in back-to-back seasons.
19.5
4
FOUR! Up and over for a boundary! Fuller outside off, Khushdil Shah lofts this over extra cover for a boundary. Box-office finish awaits us. The whole season has come down to this last delivery. 4 needed off 1.
19.4
2b
Fuller one outside off, Khushdil Shah swings wildly and misses out. Sam Billings collects this and throws this to the bowler and he has a shy at the non-striker's end and misses. No one backing up and the batters get two byes.