Lahore Qalandars secured a commanding 79-run victory over Quetta Gladiators in the fourth match of the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
Fakhar Zaman and Sam Billings led the batting charge for the Qalandars, laying the foundation for their comprehensive triumph. The team’s bowlers then delivered a clinical performance, dismantling the Gladiators’ batting line-up with precision and control.
From Lahore Qalandars, Rishad Hossain emerged as the standout performer with the ball. He collected three crucial wickets, halting any momentum the Gladiators sought to build.
Shaheen Afridi, Sikandar Raza and Asif Afridi contributed significantly with the ball, each taking two wickets and tightening the grip on the opposition’s batting order.
From Quetta Gladiators, Rilee Rossouw offered the only sign of resistance with a composed innings of 44 runs. However, no other batter from the side provided any significant challenge, as the Qalandars’ bowlers dominated proceedings from the outset.
Earlier, the Qalandars had posted a formidable 220-run target for Quetta Gladiators after a dominant batting display in the fourth match of the Pakistan Super League 10 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
Opting to bat first, Lahore Qalandars posted 219 runs for the loss of six wickets within the allotted overs. Their innings began with a minor setback, as opener Mohammad Naeem was bowled by Quetta leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed for 10 runs, leaving the side at 17 for one in 2.3 overs.
Despite the early loss, Lahore recovered swiftly. Batter Fakhar Zaman and top-order partner Abdullah Shafique constructed a quick 56-run partnership for the second wicket. Shafique struck 37 from 21 deliveries before falling to spinner Akeal Hosein in the eighth over, with the score at 73 for two.
Zaman anchored the innings with a fluent knock and reached his 20th PSL half-century. He built a crucial 80-run stand with middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell, which pushed the total beyond the 150-run mark by the 15th over.
Abrar Ahmed returned to dismiss Mitchell for 37 in the 14.5th over, ending the third-wicket partnership at 153. Zaman followed an over later after scoring a blistering 67 from 39 balls, an innings punctuated by seven fours and three sixes.
England’s Sam Billings then took charge. Despite Sikandar Raza falling cheaply for six, Billings unleashed a powerful late assault. He remained unbeaten on 50 from only 19 deliveries, striking four sixes.
Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi was removed for seven runs in the final over.
Among Quetta’s bowling ranks, Abrar Ahmed and Akeal Hosein emerged as the most successful, each claiming two wickets. Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq secured one wicket apiece but failed to contain Lahore’s charge.
TOSS
The Saud Shakeel-led Quetta Gladiators decided to bowl first against the Lahore Qalandars in the fourth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
PLAYING XI
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Finn Allen, Hassan Nawaz, Kusal Mendis (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Shoaib Malik, Faheem Ashraf, Akeal Hosain, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, Shaheen Afridi (c), Jahandad Khan, Rishad Hossain, Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi
