Defending champions Lahore Qalandars defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by 69 runs in the opening match of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Lahore – As the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League gets underway, defending champions Lahore Qalandars have once again made a splash. In the very first match of the event, Qalandars have started the tournament on a winning note by defeating newcomers Hyderabad Kings by a huge margin of 69 runs after a one-sided contest.

In this match played at the Qaddafi Stadium Lahore, Lahore Qalandars won the toss and decided to bat first, which proved to be in their favour. Opener Fakhar Zaman, adopting a traditional aggressive style, took the Hyderabad bowlers by surprise and played a lightning-fast innings of 72 runs off just 45 balls. He was fully supported by Abdullah Shafiq, who scored a half-century while batting responsibly and took the team’s total to 205 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.

Hyderabad Kings’ inexperienced bowling line-up could not stop Qalandars’ batsmen from playing openly, and a shower of fours and sixes was seen in every corner of the field.

Chasing a mountain-like target of 206 runs, Hyderabad Kings had a very disappointing start. Shaheen Shah Afridi took a wicket in his first over, dampening Hyderabad’s spirits, while Haris Rauf’s pace from the other end did not allow the batsmen to cope.

For Hyderabad, Babar Azam showed some resistance by scoring 41 runs, but wickets kept falling like leaves from the other end, and the entire team was bundled out for 136 runs. Lahore Qalandars’ bowlers bowled well, and the fielders also took excellent catches to ensure their team’s victory.

With this big victory, Lahore Qalandars have secured the top position on the points table, while Hyderabad Kings faced the pressure of a big target and a lack of homework in their first match. Seeing this performance from Lahore, cricket fans are once again declaring them hot favourites for the title.