Shaheen Shah-led Lahore Qalandars clinched victory over Quetta Gladiators by registering their fifth win in the 20th match of the seventh edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Chasing a 142-run target, the Qalandars looked comfortable as both Fakhar Zaman and Kamran Ghulam played a crucial role in gradually taking the Qalandars home. Ghulam made 55 (39) Fakhar scored 53 (42), Abdullah Shafique scored 19 (20). The winning shot was played by Hafeez who belted down Hassan over mid-wicket, scoring an unbeaten 9 (5).
Qalandars continued to smoke runs at regular intervals as the Gladiators’ bowling attack was clueless in containing the Qalandars’ batters. Soon afterwards, the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led team looked in sheer turmoil.
As far as Gladiators bowling is concerned, Noor Ahmad and Ghulam Mudassar took a scalp each.
Earlier, another half-century from Iftikhar Ahmed 52 (39) helped Quetta Gladiators to put a total of 141 runs for the loss of 7 wickets against Lahore Qalandars. Meanwhile, the top order of the Gladiators was down and out as Gladiators were five down for 54. But it was the partnership Hassan Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed that give Gladiators, something to bowl at. While Jason Roy and James Vince walked back to the pavilion without troubling the scorecard. While Ahsan Ali scored 8 (12), Sarfaraz out for 12 (11) and Umar Akmal scored 25 runs off 19 balls.
Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Qalandars won the toss and elected to bowl first. Shaheen and David Wiese took two each, while Rashid Khan and Haris Rauf took a scalp each.