Shahid Afridi join the 300 wicket club in T20s

10.2 overs Afridi to Walton, out Bowled!! Cleaned up. 300 T20 wickets for Afridi. And out comes his trademark waving off the hand celebration. Rifled full and quick, Walton fails to connect with the downtown slog and the ball knocks off the off-pole. They check for a no-ball, but Afridi's foot is fine and well behind the line. Half the side back in the hut for Islamabad United. Walton b Afridi 21(17) [4s-2 6s-1]

First Wicket Keeper Batman to score 4 hundred in T20's

Kamran Akmal, Man of the Match: Everything went well. Yesterday also I scored and today also I contributed. It was amazing how we chased down this target in a must-win game. The team management believed in me. My family is here and it feels good to score in front of them. Sammy told to play the positive game and bat deep. It is good to support your team mates. I just try to give my 100 percent. The team management gave me the confidence since the last season and I am happy to repay them.

Kamran Akmal has muscled PeshawarZalmi into the playoffs

Peshawar Zalmi enter the playoffs in style - achieving the highest successful chase this season. Kamran Akmal played an important part when they won the trophy last season and he was in the thick of things today. The first over was a sign of things to come when he lofted Devcich for an inside out six. After that there was no holding back. He was a man on a mission and even a cramp could not dampen his spirit. Got his second PSL hundred with one leg and also ensured he remained unbeaten. Lahore Qalandars tried their best but they were up against a determined man and they couldn't do anything about it. Hang around for the presentations..

Kamran Akmal brings up the first century of PSL 2018

16.5 overs Shaheen Afridi to Kamran Akmal, FOUR, hundred for Akmal. Points his fingers upwards before celebrating. Raises his bat and acknowledges the crowd. They just love him. Sammy enjoyed it and is up on his feet. Second for him in PSL history and only the second Pakistani batsman to score four T20 hundreds, after Ahmed Shehzad. Short delivery at the body, Akmal was ready for it, transfered his weight back and muscled the pull in front of square, no chance for the two fielders in the deep

What a start Peshawar Zalmi slam 20 off the first over

0.6 overs Devcich to Kamran Akmal, FOUR, Devcich is on his haunches. Horrible first over from him. Gives away all the momentum that Qalandars had gathered with the bat. Short and outside off, Akmal punishes the cut behind point - splitting backward point and short third man. 20 runs to start off

Anton Devcich driving Lahore Qualandars to a strong Total

Peshawar Zalmi need 173 to make it to the playoffs. A stiff target in front of them. After opting to bat, Anton Devcich got Lahore Qalandars off to a good start. He was dropped a couple of times and he made Zalmi pay as he brought up his second fifty of the tournament. His 42-ball 70 set the perfect platform for the lower middle order to go big. The duo of Sohail Akhtar and Gulraiz Sadaf hit a few lusty blows to take the total over 170. Hasan Ali was the pick of the bowlers with his variations. Just conceded 24 off his four overs. Can Lahore chase down this target on a good batting track? 

Baz frustrated over the losses

Brendon McCullum, while speaking to Geo.tv, believed that Lahore Qalandars should’ve won at least three of the first 6 matches which they lost. “We probably should have won through those games if we had been honest in those crunch moments. We lost those key moments, if we could have won them, we could have won the three of the first six. It was very disappointing,” he said.

More importantly, the Kiwi cricketer admitted that he was frustrated over the lack of application from the team time and again during the course of few matches. “I don’t mind losing too much but make it hard to beat. Play with as much passion and pride as you can, if the opposition is good enough to beat, then fair enough, but there were times there were questions on how big our application was,” McCullum continued.

McCullum gets a much needed boos ahead of the playoffs

The third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) hasn’t been on the expected lines for the Brendon McCullum led Lahore Qalandars. With six losses in as many games, they were almost out of contention from making any further progress in the competition. Eventually, they claimed their maiden win beating Multan Sultans by six wickets at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday. The victory came in more as a relief for the team.

With Qalandars reeling at the bottom of the table, the win against Sultans has given them a glimmer of hope with an outside chance to excel towards the business end of the tournament. Following a series of defeats the captain McCullum was under scrutiny but the team management continues their faith in his leadership and has backed him with yet another vote of trust.

Shaheen Afridi leads Qalandars wrap up Multan to 114

Shaheen Afridi, Man of the Match(DUH!): "We had always planned that if the ball reversed then I would bowl wicket-to-wicket. It was certainly swinging. I discuss with the seniors about what innovation I can bring to my game and how I can improve upon my skills. I met Aaquib bhai (Aaquib Javed) just a year ago and he said that I will get extra bounce, so I thought of bouncing the batsmen out. During the hat-trick ball, I was trying the good length, not the yorker, so that I could get an edge through to the keeper."

Finally smile on Fawad Rana's Face

Brendon McCullum, Lahore Qalandars captain: "I walked up first, just by instinct (laughs). Really proud of the boys. It's been hard throughout the tournament. You can keep saying the same things, but ultimately you have to put up a good performance. Really proud that we could put up such a performance tonight. Even if we would've lost, I am proud of the way our boys have played today. About Afridi, he was outstanding, and he has been working with the support staff, discussing the length that he should be bowling. There was the temptation to use him earlier, but the job that the guys did set it up nicely for him to utilize the reverse-swing at the death. The wicket was slow when we were batting. We did a good job to restrict them to 115, but it was going to be a tough chase. The guys were good with the bat in hand and quite calm too, so it's good for us to get on the board."

Lahore Qalandars' nightmare streak is over

Wow, what a rollercoaster ride! Who'dda thunk it? After a blazing start by Sangakkara, the Sultans found themselves at 92/1. And then the collapse started, triggered by a flurry of wickets, as 17-year-old Shaheen Afridi drove the batting line-up into a wall. No wonder he did, he's not old enough to procure a license yet! 3.4-1-4-5, unreal figures for the teenager. The Qalandars got to a blazing start in pursuit of 115, but after a few wickets, and with Sadaf and Baz finding every part of their bats but the middle, the Qalandars took it really deep. After slugs and swipes and wild heaves, a straight-driven four took the Qalandars home for the first time since last season and, incredibly, they've done it against the table-toppers Multan Sultans. Shaheen Afridi is almost certainly the Man of the Match so don't hold your breath...

What a performance by the 17-year-old

A spell of 3.4- 1-4-5 is unbelievable in T20 cricket. Shaheen triggered the collapse. Multan lost their last 9 wickets for just 22 runs. Sanga looked soild at the top. He fell for 45. Things looked pretty good at 92/1, but Multan totally lost their way. Shaheen Afridi ran in hard, bowled with pace, nailed the yorkers and got them to rise as well. If this show from the 17-year-old doesn't inspire Lahore to end their 8-match losing streak, then nothing will.

Spectacular 5 wicket haul by Shaheen Afridi

19.4 overs Shaheen Afridi to Irfan, out Bowled!! What a yorker. A fifer for 17-year-old Shaheen Afridi. This was right at the base of middle stump and Irfan couldn't get his bat down in time. Joy for Shaheen Afridi, he jumps and fist pumps, before doing Sajdah. Irfan b Shaheen Afridi 0(1)

Multan Sultans win toss opt to bat first

Lahore Qalandars (Playing XI): Fakhar Zaman, Anton Devcich, Agha Salman, Gulraiz Sadaf(w), Brendon McCullum(c), Sohail Akhtar, Sunil Narine, Sohail Khan, Mitchell McClenaghan, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi

Multan Sultans (Playing XI): Kumar Sangakkara(w), Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik(c), Ross Whiteley, Kieron Pollard, Saif Badar, Sohail Tanvir, Imran Tahir, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan

Multan Sultans have won the toss and have opted to bat

Back to Back Man of the Match for Luke Ronchi

Misbah: I think, good comeback in the bowling. Good start as well, the way Ronchi is playing, it has become easy for us. Shadab played well too.

BAZ: I think we bowled poorly, very disappointed. We didn't show any intensity in the field.

Luke Ronchi, Man of the Match: It's going well at the moment. Hopefully, it continues. I worked hard and I enjoy facing spinners.

Lahore became the first team to lose 8 consecutive games

Islamabad make a mockery of the target. Wraps up things with 14 balls to spare. Nothing seems to be going Lahore Qalandar's way. They become the first team to suffer eight consecutive losses in PSL. Handshakes, hi-fives and smiles in the Islamabad camp. Ronchi and Duminy provided a superb start in pursuit of 164. The latter though couldn't kick-on but Shadab Khan, who was promoted up the order made his presence felt. 84-run stand between Ronchi and Shadab took the game away from Lahore. United now surge to the second spot in the points table with this victory. Stick around for the presentations.

Luke Ronchi equals record for fastest fifty in PSL

8.5 overs Aamer Yamin to Ronchi, SIX, Ronchi equals the record for fastest fifty in this year's PSL. Off just 22 balls. And reaches there in style. Stood tall, waited for the ball to arrive and steamrolled it over long-off. Flat six! Raise of the bat and the United camp applauds the effort

Brendon McCullum's cameo powers Lahore Qalandars to 163

A cameo from captain McCullum and an excellent hand at the top of the order from Devcich has given the Qalandars a competitive score. They were actually looking for a bigger score, but Ramdin came and put the brakes. Even the well-set Devcich struggled to time the ball during that partnership. At one point, there was no boundaries scored for 46 balls, but Baz upped the ante to get the total past 160. 40 runs came off the last 3 overs. Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets. The pitch is good to bat on. Should be an interesting chase. Can Lahore finally record a win this season? 

Anton Devcich reaches his 50 in just 28 balls

9.4 overs Shadab Khan to Devcich, 1 run, Devcich reverse sweeps to short third man this time, Sami fires a direct-hit, Agha Salman just got something behind the line when the stumps were lit up. Excellent fifty for Devcich - off 27 balls

Islamabad United win toss and bowl first

Lahore Qalandars (Playing XI): Brendon McCullum(c), Fakhar Zaman, Anton Devcich, Agha Salman, Denesh Ramdin(w), Sunil Narine, Aamer Yamin, Yasir Shah, Sohail Khan, Salman Irshad, Imran Khan jnr

Islamabad United (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Luke Ronchi(w), Jean-Paul Duminy, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Samit Patel, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Steven Finn, Mohammad Sami

Islamabad United have won the toss and have opted to field