Lahore Qalandars pull off biggest run chase in history of T20 finals

Lahore Qalandars made history on May 25 after successfully chasing down 202 runs against Quetta Gladiators, the highest-ever run chase in the final of any T20 franchise competition. While the match was a nail-biter, the biggest talking point was the dramatic, last-minute arrival of Sikandar Raza.

Having just played a Test match for Zimbabwe against England, Raza reached the stadium only ten minutes before the toss for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) X final, and ended up being the match-winner.

With Lahore needing 47 runs from the final three overs, Raza stepped up and smashed 22 off just seven balls, hitting two sixes and two fours. He guided the Qalandars to victory with just one ball left, helping them chase down the target and setting a new record. This broke the previous record set by Kolkata Knight Riders, who chased 200 in the 2014 IPL final.

Quetta Gladiators had set a strong total of 202 following a brilliant 76 off 43 balls from Hasan Nawaz, which included 12 boundaries. Faheem Ashraf added in 28 runs off just eight balls, giving Quetta a strong finish.

But it was Sikandar Raza’s heroics that stole the show. Just hours before the game, he had been travelling across continents. "I bowled 25 overs the day before yesterday, batted for over 20 overs yesterday, had dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, lunch in Abu Dhabi, and dinner in Pakistan," he shared after the match.

This victory marked Lahore Qalandars’ third PSL title, and a record third trophy for Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain.