Lahore Qalandars build big score despite rain interruption

Opening batters Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman delivered explosive half-centuries as Lahore Qalandars posted a strong 160/8 in a rain-shortened 15-over match against Karachi Kings in a high-voltage PSL 10 encounter at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Put in to bat first, Lahore got off to a blistering start, with Naeem and Fakhar crafting a 90-run opening stand in just eight overs. Naeem led the charge with a fiery 29-ball 65, smashing six fours and five sixes before being dismissed by Aamir Jamal—who earlier dropped him on 11.

The match was briefly halted due to rain, resuming after an hour-long interruption, with the contest reduced to 15 overs per side. Despite the disruption, the Qalandars continued to dominate, as Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar added a quick 31-run stand.

Shafique chipped in with 18 off 11 balls, while Fakhar kept the scoreboard ticking with a composed 51 off 33 deliveries, including four fours and three sixes.

The Karachi Kings made a strong comeback in the later stages, thanks to Abbas Afridi, who picked up 4 wickets for 27 runs in his three-over spell. He removed Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sikandar Raza, and Fakhar to put brakes on Lahore’s scoring spree. Mir Hamza and Aamir Jamal chipped in with one wicket each.

Despite the late flurry of wickets, Lahore Qalandars managed to set a formidable total of 160/8, giving their bowlers a solid platform to defend in the much-anticipated clash.

The contest now shifts to the second innings, where Karachi Kings will need a strong batting performance to chase down the challenging target under pressure.