Quetta Gladiators climbed to fourth place in the HBL Pakistan Super League standings after a strong six-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars. The match was played at the National Bank Stadium on Friday evening. The win helped Quetta recover momentum after a previous defeat.
Lahore Qalandars struggled with the bat after being put in to play first. They were bowled out for 134 runs in 19.5 overs. Their batting lineup collapsed early under pressure from Quetta’s disciplined attack.
Quetta’s bowlers dominated the innings from the start. The Qalandars were reduced to 42 for 4 within the powerplay. They never fully recovered from the early setbacks.
Strong Bowling Performance Restricts Lahore Qalandars
Quetta Gladiators delivered a sharp bowling performance. Usman Tariq led the attack with impressive figures of 3 for 18. Jahandad Khan also played a key role with 3 for 35.
South African pacer Alzarri Joseph added pressure with crucial wickets. His spell further weakened Lahore’s batting order. The team kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
A late effort from Usama Mir gave Lahore some respectability. He scored 22 runs off just 7 balls. However, the total of 134 remained below par.
Rossouw and Nawaz Power Easy Chase
Chasing 135, Quetta Gladiators faced an early setback. Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in the opening over to remove a top-order batter. This gave Lahore a brief hope of a comeback.
However, the momentum quickly shifted. Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz built a strong partnership. The duo added 104 runs for the third wicket.
Rossouw played a composed unbeaten innings of 60 runs. Nawaz supported him with a fluent 49 before getting out just short of his half-century. Their partnership effectively sealed the match.
Quetta reached the target of 138 for 4 with 22 balls remaining. The chase was completed with ease after a steady middle-order performance.
Standings Update and Player of the Match
Usman Tariq was named Player of the Match for his excellent bowling spell. His early breakthroughs set the tone for Quetta’s victory.
With this result, Quetta Gladiators moved to fourth place on the points table. They now sit ahead of Karachi Kings on net run rate.
On the other hand, Lahore Qalandars slipped further down to seventh position. They currently have only four points in the tournament.
The defeat adds pressure on Lahore as the league progresses. Quetta, meanwhile, will look to maintain their winning momentum.
Match Summary
Lahore Qalandars: 134 all out (Haseebullah 33, Usama Mir 22; Usman Tariq 3-18, Jahandad 3-35)
Quetta Gladiators: 138-4 (Rossouw 60*, Hasan Nawaz 49)
Result: Quetta won by six wickets
The next fixture will see Lahore Qalandars face another challenge at the same venue as the PSL season continues.
