KARACHI: Lahore Qalandars defeated Quetta Gladiators with their brilliant all-round performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match in Karachi on Tuesday, taking the opponents down by 63 runs.
Chasing the 199-run target, Gladiators lost opener Abdul Bangalzai in the very first over. Martin Guptill and Jason Roy put up some resistance to the strong bowling of Qalandars, adding 47 runs to the total before David Wiese sent Guptill to the pavilion. Roy continued to hit around the ground, but Rashid Khan dismissed him with a beautiful delivery.
Mohammad Hafeez was the second notable batter who scored 25 runs off 22 deliveries.
Wiese and Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Afridi bagged three wickets each, conceding 23 and 22 runs respectively.
Afghanistan’s spinner Rashid Khan, who joined the team on Tuesday, took one wicket for 17 runs at the rate of 4.25 runs per over. Sikandar Raza sent one batter to the pavilion.
Earlier, Gladiators won the toss and invited Qalandars to bat first.
Fakhar Zaman (22 off 14) and Mirza Baig (31 off 15) gave Qalandars a good start before Zaman edged the ball towards wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed. Baig lost his wicket to Muhammad Nawaz following a huge six and taking the team’s total to 61 from 5.2 overs.
Kamran Ghulam was the third one to head to the pavilion in 11.2 overs after he was stumped by Ahmed on a delivery by Qais Ahmed. Ghulam scored 21 runs.
Lahore Qalandars' Shai Hope plays a shot during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 cricket match between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 21, 2023. (AFP)
Shai Hope remained the top scorer for his side with 47 runs from 32 deliveries before snicking the ball to Fakhar Zaman who comfortably caught it.
Hussain Talat added 26 quick runs to the total before losing his wicket to Qais. Raza and Rashid Khan scored unbeaten 32 and 11, respectively.
Odean Smith bagged two wickets, but conceded 41 runs in his four overs. Qais grabbed two wickets too, while Mohammad Nawaz dismissed one for 26.
Naseem Shah, who showed a brilliant performance in his last match, remained the most expensive bowler and gave away 47 runs without any wicket. Mohammad Hasnain took one wicket.
