All-round Qalandars qualify for PSL 8 playoffs.

LAHORE -- Brilliant batting by Sam Billings and Abdullah Shafique and superb bowling by Rashid Khan helped Lahore Qalandars emerge as first team to qualify for the HBL PSL 8 playoffs after defeating Multan Sultans by 21 runs in the 20th match played here at the jam-packed Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday night. Chasing the target of 181 runs, Multan Sultans couldn't start well and faced the first blow in the seventh over, when Shaheen took a brilliant catch to send back Shan Masood (19 off 20) off Zaman Khan.

Usama Mir was then joined by Muhammad Rizwan, but he too lost his wicket cheaply and could score only 17 off 11 - hitting one six and a four. Rizwan batted sensibly but he too couldn't convert his innings into a fifty, as he was trapped by Sikandar Raza in the 10th over. Rashid then turned the tables of the match as he first dismissed Usama and then David Miller in a span of four balls in the 11th over. Then in the next over, Rashid also showed the pavilion to Rilee Rossouw to reduce their opponents to 87-5 Pollard did put up a show with the bat towards the end, but by then, it was all too late.

The West Indian hit three sixes and two fours in his 39 off 28. In the end, it was Lahore Qalandars' Rashid Khan, who stole the show and emerged as player of the match with impressive figures of 3-15. Earlier...