Mohammad Hafeez Steers Lahore Qalandars Into Qualifier 2 Of Pakistan Super League

Veteran Mohammad Hafeez hammered an unbeaten 74 off just 46 balls and pacer Dilbar Hussain bagged three wickets to help Lahore Qalandars defeat Peshawar Zalmi by five wickets in Eliminator 1 of Pakistan Super League (PSL) here late on Saturday night.

Qalandars will now play Multan Sultans in Qualifier 2 on Sunday. The winner will meet Karachi Kings, who defeated Multan Sultans in a Super Over tie-breaker earlier on Saturday.

After Lahore Qalandars captain Sohail Akhtar won the toss and chose to bowl, Peshawar scored 170 for nine wickets in 20 overs, thanks to former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik's 24-ball 39. Lahore overhauled the target on the last ball of the 19th and penultimate over after South African fast bowler David Wiese slammed Wahab Riaz for two successive sixes. The winners ended up at 171 for five wickets in 19 overs.

Batting at No.4, Hafeez (9x4s, 2x6s) took the responsibility after Lahore lost three wickets for just 33 runs inside five overs and steadied the innings. He received good support from the lower order batsmen. Ben Dunk (20), Samit Patel (20), and Wiese (16 not out off 7 balls, 2x6s) contributed crucial runs from one end while Hafeez kept the other end going.

Peshawar's speedster Saqib Mahmood was the most successful bowler of the seven used, taking three wickets, though he conceded too many runs -- 41 in four overs.

Earlier, Lahore Qalandars' decision to bowl first seemed correct initially as gangling fast bowler Shaeen Afridi bowled opener Haider Ali for nought when the team score was solitary run.

Wicket-keeper-opener Imam-ul-Haq (24) and Sohaib Maqsood (16) also couldn't do much. Then, 38-year-old Malik made a 24-ball 39 - the top score of the innings -- and South African Faf du Plessis played 24-ball 31 cameo to steady the ship somewhat.

Down the order, du Plessis's brother-in-law Hardus Viljoen, also of South Africa, blasted a 17-ball 37 to help Peshawar Zalmi to 170 for nine wickets in 20 overs.

Lahore Qalandars' fast bowler Dilbar Hussain was the top wicket-taker with three scalps while Afridi, Harid Rauf, and David Wiese took two wickets each.

Brief scores:

Peshawar Zalmi: 170/9 wkts in 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 39, Hardus Viljoen 37, Faf du Plessis 31, Dilbar Hussain 3/33) lost to Lahore Qalandars: 171/5 wkts in 19 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 74 not out, ben Dunk 20, Samit Patel 20, Saqib Mahmood 3/41) by 5 wkts