Watch: Fakhar Zaman smokes a six off Akeal Hosein including a slog-sweep from wide outside off, winning a cat-and-mouse battle in the PSL 2023 tournament opener.

In a repeat of last year’s final, the Pakistan Super League got underway with a tight match between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans on Monday. Fakhar hit a 32-ball half-century opening the batting, and came out on top in an individual contest with Hosein.

Having started relatively slowly, Fakhar was seven off nine balls in the fourth over of the match. Hosein had opened the bowling and restricted both opening batters first up, conceding six runs from his first over. He continued to get the better of Fakhar in his second, with the left-hander only able to pick up a two and a couple of singles off Hosein as he varied his length.

Once Shahnawaz Dahani was brought into the attack, Fakhar did manage to somewhat break the shackles, connecting with the final ball of his first over and sending it for six.

Hosein was brought back on to bowl the next over and took the first wicket of the match with his second delivery, Mirza Baig chipping the ball up for Usama Mir to take a fine diving catch at backward square.

But Fakhar carried on undeterred and hit the final ball of Hosein’s over for his third maximum, powerfully nailing a sweep off a half-volley.

Left out of the attack until the 12th over, Fakhar continued his assault against Hosein when he returned. After struggling to get two variation balls away from the West Indian spinner, Fakhar cut loose with a slog-sweep dragged from outside off stump into the leg side for six. The fielder put in a valiant jump on the boundary in vain as the ball sailed over his head.

Having started well, Hosein finished his four-over spell with figures of 1-31 with Fakhar still at the crease. Continuing his powerful display, Hosein followed up in the next over against Mir with a flat-batted six over long on for his fifth maximum.

His innings built a solid platform for Qalandars who went on to win the match by one run after a near-lone effort of 75 off 50 from Mohammad Rizwan.

Fakhar’s innings also marked a personal milestone of 2000 runs in the PSL. He is the second player to pass the landmark after Babar Azam.

Watch: Fakhar Zaman smokes slog-sweep for six from wide outside off below

.@FakharZamanLive at his belligerent best 🔥#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #MSvLQ pic.twitter.com/sxbmpjwCto

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 13, 2023