LAHORE Qalandars opener Fakhar Zaman hits out during the Pakistan Super League match against Rawalpindiz at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday. —Tahir Jamal/White Star KARACHI: Lahore Qalandars produced a clinical performance to register a 32-run victory over Rawalpindiz here at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday night, effectively ending their slim playoff hopes in the HBL Pakistan Super League. Fakhar Zaman’s sparkling 84 off 54 balls anchored a formidable total of 210 for four, before skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf dismantled Rawalpindiz’s top order and middle order with incisive bowling.

The win snapped a three-match losing streak for Qalandars and injected fresh life into their campaign, while Rawalpindiz slumped to a seventh successive defeat in what has been a nightmarish debut season so far. After electing to bat first on a placid pitch that offered little assistance to bowlers, Qalandars got off to a blistering start. Openers Fakhar and Mohammad Farooq unleashed an array of audacious strokes, capitalising on the short boundaries and lightning-fast outfield.

Farooq, in particular, played with remarkable swagger, smashing 63 off 41 deliveries laced with five fours and as many sixes. His inside-out loft over extra cover off Mohammad Amir and the flat six off Asif Afridi stood out as shots of supreme class and timing. Fakhar, rediscovering his mojo after a lean patch, complemented his partner perfectly.

He reached his fifty with a trademark whip through fine leg and continued to deal in boundaries, punishing anything loose with his trademark slog-sweeps and powerful cuts. By the time the southpaw departed after hitting (11 fours and a six) in the 19th over, caught at deep cover by Dian Forrester off Amir, Qalandars had crossed the 190-run mark. The opening pair added 121, setting a platform that allowed the middle order to play freely.

Abdullah Shafique chipped in with 26 off 18, while Asif Ali provided the late flourish with an unbeaten 14 off six balls, including two towering sixes in the final over. Chasing 211, Rawalpindiz needed a strong start but found themselves in early trouble against Shaheen’s fiery new-ball spell. The lanky left-armer removed Shahzaib Khan for seven in the third over, inducing a soft catch to Asif at cover.

Two balls later, he produced a stunning in-swinging yorker to trap captain Mohammad Rizwan lbw for nine on review — a massive blow on his 100th T20 appearance. Rizwan’s struggles continued, underscoring concerns about his recent form. Yasir Khan provided a fleeting spark with a blistering 58 off 29 balls, including six fours and three sixes, but his dismissal — a soft catch to Fakhar at cover off Haris — triggered a collapse.

Daryl Mitchell (11) and Sam Billings (seven) failed to build partnerships, falling to Haris and Sikandar Raza, respectively. Usama Mir turned the screw with a fine spell of 2-29, including a beautiful googly that castled Forrester and an lbw decision against Cole McConchie. Haris, despite going for runs at times, claimed three wickets, including the dangerous Saad Masood for a valiant 54 off 26 balls (nine fours and six) in the penultimate over.

Saad’s enterprising knock, featuring some audacious boundaries and a half-century in just 21 deliveries, offered Rawalpindiz fans a rare moment of cheer. However, it proved too little, too late as the asking rate skyrocketed beyond 20 runs per over. Amir and Asif Afridi hung around till the end, but the target was always out of reach.

Rawalpindiz finished at 178 for nine. For Rawalpindiz, the defeat confirmed their elimination from playoff contention. Despite possessing talent in the auction, the side has struggled with execution, particularly in the middle order and with death bowling.

Questions will linger over team selection and the inability to convert promising starts into match-winning performances. Qalandars, on the other hand, will take confidence from this comprehensive display. With Fakhar back among the runs and their pace battery showing bite, they remain a dangerous proposition as the league phase enters its business end. Scoreboard LAHORE QALANDARS: Fakhar Zaman c Forrester b Amir84 Mohammad Farooq c Forrester b Amir63 Abdullah Shafique c Saad b Razaullah26 Sikandar Raza c Billings b Razaullah0 Asif Ali not out14 Charith Asalanka not out1 EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, NB-1, W-15)22 TOTAL (for four wickets, 20 overs)210 DID NOT BAT: Haseebullah Khan, Daniel Sams, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf FALL OF WICKETS: 1-121 (Farooq), 2-191 (Abdullah), 3-191 (Raza), 4-195 (Fakhar) BOWLING: Asif 3-0-29-0, McConchie 3-0-37-0 (1w), Amir 4-0-25-2 (2w), Razaullah 4-0-45-2 (4w), Saad 2-0-21-0 (1w), Mitchell 4-0-47-0 (3w, 1nb) RAWALPINDIZ: Shahzaib Khan c Asif b Shaheen7 Mohammad Rizwan lbw b Shaheen9 Yasir Khan c Fakhar b Haris58 Daryl Mitchell c Usama b Haris11 Sam Billings st Haseebullah b Raza7 Dian Forrester b Usama8 Saad Masood b Haris54 Cole McConchie lbw b Usama3 Razaullah c Farooq b S