PSL 10: Daryl Mitchell shines as Qalandars beat Sultans for third win

Daryl Mitchell delivered a match-winning performance as Lahore Qalandars secured a five-wicket victory over bottom-placed Multan Sultans at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday in the ongoing PSL 10.

Chasing a competitive target of 186, the Qalandars reached the finish line with one over to spare, earning their third win of the season.

Lahore had a shaky start as opener Mohammad Naeem fell early to Josh Little with only 12 runs on the board. Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique then added 33 runs before Fakhar was dismissed by Mohammad Hasnain after the powerplay. Fakhar scored a handy 28 off 22 balls, including three fours and two sixes.

Shafique continued to build the innings and formed a 49-run stand with Daryl Mitchell. However, Multan's Ubaid Shah struck twice in one over, removing Shafique for 34 and Sam Billings for a duck, pushing Qalandars to 95/4 in 12 overs.

From there, Mitchell and Sikandar Raza took control. The pair counterattacked brilliantly, adding 89 runs for the fifth wicket. Mitchell played a classy knock of 64 runs off 38 balls, smashing four fours and four sixes, before being dismissed in the 19th over.

Raza stayed unbeaten on 40 from just 21 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes to guide Lahore to victory.

For Multan, Ubaid Shah was the most effective bowler with two wickets. Hasnain, Akif Javed, and Josh Little claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, Multan Sultans posted 185/3 after being put in to bat. Their innings was powered by a 115-run unbeaten partnership between captain Mohammad Rizwan and Kamran Ghulam. 

Yasir Khan gave the team an early boost with 24 off 18 balls, but Qalandars' bowlers kept things tight in the middle overs. Rizwan anchored the innings with an unbeaten 76 off 48 deliveries, hitting six boundaries and three sixes. Ghulam supported well with 52* off 31, striking two fours and four sixes.

For Lahore, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Curran, and Haris Rauf each picked up a wicket.

With this win, Qalandars moved a step closer to playoff contention, while the Sultans continue to struggle at the bottom of the table.