Twitter Reactions: Mirza Baig and Zaman Khan boost Lahore Qalandars to PSL 2023 final

Lahore Qalandars beat Peshawar Zalmi by four wickets in the Eliminator 2 match of the Pakistan Super League 2023 to reach the final on Friday, March 17. The reigning champions returned to their best after losing the last two games by big margins. Mohammad Haris scored a big knock to help the Zalmi post a challenging total while batting first but Mirza Baig's 54 off 42 knock proved a difference as Lahore Qalandars chased the target in just 18.5 overs.

Babar Azam won the toss for Peshawar Zalmi and elected to field first at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. Sri Lankan batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa replaced James Neesham for the Zalmi while Ahsan Hafeez made a debut for the Qalandars with all-rounder Hussain Talat sitting out. 

Saim Ayub started the innings by smashing two fours to Shaheen Afridi in the very first over but was bowled out on Zaman Khan's delivery in the second over. In-form Babar continued his red-hot form and pulled off a big 89-run partnership with a young wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris for the second wicket.

Babar scored a crucial 42 off 36 with the help of seven fours before getting out on Rashid Khan's delivery in the 12th over. But Haris went on to record another fifty as he smashed 85 off 54 with 11 fours and two sixes. Shaheen dismissed Haris in the 18th over and then Zalmi's innings was restricted to just 171/5. Zaman and Rashid took two wickets each for the Qalandars while Shaheen picked one for 41.

While defending 171, the Afghan pace all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai bowled out the last season's leading run-getter Fakhar Zaman on just six runs in the second over to add early pressure on the Qalandars. Baig kept the runs flowing from one end but his side lost debutant Ahsan Hafeez and youngster Abdullah Shafique cheaply. 

Sam Billings steadied the Qalandars' innings with a crucial 50-run partnership with Baig for the fourth wicket. Baig smashed 54 off 42 to put Lahore's side in the driving seat for the first time. Aamer Jamal balanced the game in the 13th over with Baig's wicket.

But Sam Billing's 28 and Sikandar Raza's 23 helped the Qalandars closer to the target. Captain Shaheen smashed a six and four to finish the game in style as Lahore Qalandars won by four wickets with seven balls remaining.

Here is how Twitter is reacting to Lahore Qalandars's win over Peshawar Zalmi:

King Babar Azam Army@kingbabararmy

The Imaginative shots King Babar Azam is playing in this PSL 👑😍🙇‍♂️ #BabarAzam #BabarAzam𓃵 #PZvLQ

08:16 PM · Mar 17, 2023

68238

Ali Khan Tareen@aliktareen

My love and support for @lahoreqalandars is well documented but tonight I’m hoping for a Zalmi win. Really want to see Babar Azam in the final this year. 🙏🏼🤩

07:33 PM · Mar 17, 2023

2.5K69

Aatif Nawaz@AatifNawaz

Mohammad Haris uses the back of his bat better than a lot of batters use the front 🤣

09:19 PM · Mar 17, 2023

70638

Farid Khan@_FaridKhan

Mohammad Haris with a fantastic innings! 85 runs from 54 balls, striking at 160 🔥🔥 #HBLPSL8

09:06 PM · Mar 17, 2023

1.5K34

Lahore Qalandars@lahoreqalandars

🎯 🅱🆄🅻🅻🆂🅴🆈🅴! 🎯 Zaman Khan's deadly delivery leaves Saim Ayub stumped! ⚡️ #HBLPSL8 #SabSitarayHumaray #LQvPZ #qalandarhum #qalandarscity

07:49 PM · Mar 17, 2023

29417

Saj Sadiq@SajSadiqCricket

Muhammad Haris today: Versus Shaheen - 30 from 15 balls Versus Rashid Khan - 29 from 13 balls #PSL8 #LQvPZ

09:19 PM · Mar 17, 2023

2.2K124

PakistanSuperLeague@thePSLt20

Who else but @rashidkhan_19 turning it around 😎 #HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvPZ

08:46 PM · Mar 17, 2023

25215

PakistanSuperLeague@thePSLt20

Some magic with the bat from @sambillings ✨ #HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvPZ

10:35 PM · Mar 17, 2023

1978

PakistanSuperLeague@thePSLt20

INTO THE FINALS 👏 @lahoreqalandars set up a rematch with @MultanSultans for the Saturday showdown after completing an excellent chase today 👌 #HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvPZ

11:21 PM · Mar 17, 2023

49340