Lahore Qalandars delivered a crushing 79-run defeat to Quetta Gladiators in a completely one-sided affair during the fourth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 at Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Opting to bat first, the Qalandars posted an imposing 219 for 6, thanks to stellar performances from Fakhar Zaman and Sam Billings. In response, the Gladiators faltered under pressure and were bowled out well short of the target, with Rishad Hossain leading the bowling onslaught by picking up three vital wickets.
Batting Brilliance Sets the Tone
Despite an early setback when opener Muhammad Naeem was bowled by Abrar Ahmed for 10, Lahore quickly regained control. Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique stitched together a brisk 56-run stand for the second wicket, with Shafique contributing 37 off 21 before falling to Akeal Hosein in the eighth over.
Zaman, in fine touch, anchored the innings with a fluent 67 off 39 balls, featuring seven boundaries and three sixes. He shared an 80-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell, who added 37 before being dismissed by Abrar Ahmed in the 15th over.
England’s Sam Billings provided the late fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 50 off just 19 balls, including four towering sixes. His onslaught propelled the Qalandars to a mammoth total, despite losing Sikandar Raza and Shaheen Afridi cheaply in the final overs.
Gladiators’ Batting Crumbles
Chasing 220, Quetta’s batting line-up collapsed under pressure. Rilee Rossouw was the lone warrior, scoring a composed 44, but received little support from the other end. Lahore’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure, with Rishad Hossain taking 3 crucial wickets to dismantle the middle order.
Shaheen Afridi, Sikandar Raza, and Asif Afridi each chipped in with two wickets apiece, ensuring that Quetta never found momentum. The Gladiators were eventually bowled out, handing Lahore a comprehensive 79-run win.
Bowling Highlights
- Rishad Hossain: 3 wickets – game-changing spells through the middle
- Shaheen Afridi, Sikandar Raza, Asif Afridi: 2 wickets each
- Quetta’s bowlers: Abrar Ahmed and Akeal Hosein were the pick of the lot with 2 wickets apiece, but couldn’t stop the Qalandars’ onslaught.
Toss & Teams
Toss: Quetta Gladiators, led by Saud Shakeel, chose to bowl first.
Playing XI:
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Finn Allen, Hassan Nawaz, Kusal Mendis (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Shoaib Malik, Faheem Ashraf, Akeal Hosein, 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
With this dominant performance, Lahore Qalandars have firmly marked their presence in PSL 10, while Quetta Gladiators are left to regroup after a tough outing.
