Pakistan quick Shaheen Afridi starred with the ball in the Pakistan Super League on Friday (May 23), leading Lahore Qalandars to the final.
Lahore came up against Islamabad United in Qualifier 2, having defeated Karachi Kings by six wickets in the Eliminator last night.
The Qalandars welcomed Bangladesh leggie Rishad Hossain back into their lineup as he returned from national duty, and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi chose to bat first. They scored 202-8 in their 20 overs, powered by opener Mohammad Naeem's 25-ball 50 and Kusal Perera's 61 off 35 balls.
Shaheen Afridi's 3-3 leads Lahore to PSL playoffs-record win
Skipper Shaheen then set the tone with the ball, uprooting Islamabad opener Muhammad Shahzad's middle stump in the very first over. Fellow quick Salman Mirza followed that up in the second with the big wicket of Sahibzada Farhan, before getting rid of Rassie van der Dussen in the fourth over.
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Mirza picked up a third Powerplay wicket to dismiss Imad Wasim for eight, and leave Islamabad 33-4. Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan put on 39 for the fifth wicket but departed in quick succession to Rishad, who also accounted for James Neesham.
With figures of 1-3 in two overs, Shaheen returned in the 14th over of the innings and bowled a wicket maiden, taking the ninth wicket by knocking over Tymal Mills. He then struck with the first ball of his final over to finish with figures of 3-3 in 3.1 overs, sealing a record win for Lahore. This performance comes just days after Shaheen was left out of Pakistan's T20I squad to take on Bangladesh.
The victory margin of 95 runs is now the largest in a PSL playoff fixture, beating Multan Sultans' 84-run win over Lahore in 2023. LQ will meet Quetta Gladiators in the final on Sunday (May 25) – their third appearance in the summit clash in the last four years.
Largest margins of victory in a PSL playoff fixture
| Team | Margin | Opposition | Venue | Year |
| Lahore Qalandars | 95 runs | Islamabad United | Lahore | 2025 |
| Multan Sultans | 84 runs | Lahore Qalandars | Lahore | 2023 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 58 runs | Quetta Gladiators | Lahore | 2017 |
| Islamabad United | 50 runs | Peshawar Zalmi | Dubai (DICS) | 2016 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 48 runs | Islamabad United | Karachi | 2019 |
| Multan Sultans | 47 runs | Peshawar Zalmi | Abu Dhabi | 2021 |
| Karachi Kings | 44 runs | Islamabad United | Sharjah | 2017 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 42 runs | Multan Sultans | Lahore | 2022 |
| Islamabad United | 39 runs | Quetta Gladiators | Karachi | 2024 |
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