Lahore Qalandars cruise to victory over Quetta Gladiators
Lahore Qalandars thrashed Quetta Gladiators by 63 runs in the 10th match of the ongoing eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi on Tuesday.
Put to bat first, Lahore Qalandars posted a mammoth 199-run target before restricting the Gladiators to 135-8 in 20 overs.
The Gladiators couldn’t find the momentum during the run-chase after Jason Roy’s departure. They lost Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Hafeez in quick succession.
Iftikhar’s mistimed shot landed in the hands of Fakhar Zaman. He could score only six runs in 10 balls. Later, in the next over, Mohammad Nawaz (2) fell to Sikandar Raza. The left-handed batter skied his shot, which ended up in Kamran Ghulam’s hands.
Next to walk of the field was veteran batter Hafeez, who also couldn’t cross the fence as his skying shot was caught by the skipper Shaheen. The right-handed batter scored 25 runs in 22 balls.
After taking a blinder, Shaheen delivered with the ball, taking the wicket of Odean Smith, who misjudged a slow ball and was caught by Rashid.
In his last over, the skipper struck again as Qais Ahmed was dismissed after scoring nine runs.
Martin Guptill and Roy departed in quick succession after the two batters helped the Gladiators overcome an early setback against the Qalandars.
It took Rashid Khan only seven deliveries to strike for the defending champions as he bowled out Roy after the destructive batter scored 48 runs off 30 balls.
Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi gave the Qalandars an early breakthrough as he sent Abdul Wahid Bangalzai back to the pavilion after trapping him for an lbw.
The young batter, Bangalzai, was out for a golden duck.
Guptill and Roy helped the Gladiators overcome the early setback, putting on a partnership of 47 runs for the second wicket.
But Guptill was dismissed by all-rounder David Wiese following scoring 15 runs.
For the defending champions, Shaheen and Wiese claimed three wickets each, while Rashid and Raza took a scalp each.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars set Quetta Gladiators a mammoth target of 199 runs.
Put to bat first, the Qalandars posted a total of 199 runs thanks to a great batting display from, Shai Hope, Tahir Baig, and Sikandar Raza.
After a great start to the innings by the defending champions, the Gladiators made a comeback in the later stage of the innings by taking quick wickets against the Qalandars.
The Qalandars kept going despite losing two wickets following the departure of their opening batters, Fakhar Zaman and Tahir.
Lahore lost both their openers, Fakhar and Tahir, in quick succession. The duo added 49 runs for the first wicket.
However, the left-handed batter was sent back to the pavilion by Odean Smith after scoring 22 runs off 14 balls. Later, Tahir, who smashed a brilliant, 31 runs off only 15 balls, fell to Mohammad Nawaz.
After the departure of the two openers, Hope and Kamran Ghulam stitched a great 56-run partnership for the third wicket, but Kamran fell to Qais Ahmed after scoring 21 runs.
But, Hope continued to bat well but his compatriot, Odean, got the better of him and sent him packing after he gathered 47 runs.
All-rounder Hussain Talat looked good and scored 26 runs, but he couldn’t build on innings and was sent packing by the Afghan spinner, Qais.
Pace ace Mohammad Hasnain struck in the 18th over and bowled out the dangerous batter David Wiese (1) with a peach of a delivery that hit the middle stump.
Raza played a crucial knock toward the end of the innings, scoring 32 runs off just 16 deliveries.
For Quetta, Qais and Odean claimed two wickets each, while Nawaz and Hasnain took a scalp each.
Sarfaraz Ahmed is leading Quetta, while Shaheen Shah Afridi is leading defending champions Qalandars in the crucial clash.
Both teams are currently languishing at the bottom of the points table, with Quetta in fifth place and defending champions Lahore in sixth spot.
Lahore got a major boost ahead of the match as star leg-spinner Rashid Khan has joined the side and will be available for the encounter against Quetta.
However, the same can’t be said about Quetta who are set to be without experienced Sri Lankan cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga for the tournament. The all-rounder will miss the event due to non-issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Playing XIs:
Quetta Gladiators: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hafeez, Odean Smith, Iftikhar Ahmed, Martin Guptill, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Jason Roy, Qais Ahmed
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Shai Hope, Kamran Ghulam, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan