Lahore Qalandars stormed into the final of the Pakistan Super League after a commanding 25-run win over Multan Sultans on Sunday.
All-rounder David Wiese and fast bowler Haris Rauf were the main architects of the victory that helped set up a title clash with Karachi Kings on Tuesday.
Lahore posted a respectable 182-6, with Wiese's unbeaten 48 from 21 balls batting at number seven the main driving force towards the end of the innings. Veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi (2-18) was outstanding with the ball for Multan, who would have hoped to restrict Lahore for a lower score.
Multan batted like Sultans at the start of the chase, reaching 47 in the fifth over as opener Adam Lyth (50 from 29) cut loose. But the introduction of right-arm fast bowler Rauf changed the flow of the game as he broke the opening stand by dismissing Zeeshan Ashraf.
Wiese then accounted for the dangerous Lyth and ended up with figures of 3-27 to send his team on the path to the final. Any hopes Multan had of a late charge to the finish line were extinguished when Rauf (3-30) clean bowled Afridi first ball.
Multan were bowled out for 157 in the final over at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Lahore captain Sohail Akhtar gave credit to his fast bowlers for securing a passage to the final.
"It's a big achievement to reach the final. The belief that was there for five years has paid off," Akhtar said.
"Our three fast bowlers are all 140 plus [kph in speed] and all have variations. I believe we can defend any total. The momentum we have, we'll try to continue going that way for the final."
