LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators cruised to a 40-run win over Hyderabad Kingsmen in their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
After this, the Gladiators team has advanced to the fifth place in the points table. After two matches, they have one win and one loss, giving them two points and a net run-rate of +0.650.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad Kingsmen have suffered back-to-back defeats to start their campaign. They are rooted to the bottom of the standings with a net run-rate of -2.725.
Lahore Qalandars currently top the table with one win, two points and a net run-rate of +3.450. Multan Sultans sit second with two points with a net run-rate of +0.825.
PSL 11 Points Table:
| Teams | Competitions | succeeds | lost | points | NRR |
| Lahore Colleagues | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3.450 |
| Sultans of Multan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.825 |
| Kings of Karachi | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.700 |
| Peshawar Salmi | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.674 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.650 |
| Rawalpindi’s | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.674 |
| Islamabad United | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.825 |
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -2.725 |
Batting first, Quetta Gladiators scored 174 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs. Openers captain Saud Shakeel and Shamil Hussain gave the innings a smooth start.
Riley Meredith was bowled on the final ball of the second over as South hit a boundary off one ball to send the Gladiators 21-1.
Shamil Hussain then combined with Hasan Nawaz to rebuild the innings. The pair added 50 runs to ease the pressure and keep the scoreboard ticking.
Shamil continued his impressive run, scoring his second consecutive half-century in PSL 11. His stand of 89 with Nawaz was eventually broken by Meredith, who smashed Shamil for a superb 54 off 41 balls, which included three fours and three sixes.
Hasan Nawaz scored 53 off 40 balls and was run out by Usman Khan following a direct delivery from Saad Ali.
Chasing 175 for victory, Hyderabad Kingsmen were restricted to 134-8 in 20 overs by some disciplined bowling by Gladiators.
Saim Ayub hit two consecutive fours in the first over and fell to 8 off four balls in no time, before being bowled by a sharp, unplayable bouncer from Alzari Joseph.
In the next over, Abrar Ahmed dismissed the other opener Mas Sadagat for a duck off the second ball, leaving the Kingsmen reeling at 17-2.
Saad Ali and Marnus Labuschagne tried to stabilize the innings, crossing the 50-run mark. However, Usman Tariq made an immediate impact in his first over, dismissing Saad Ali for 7 off 12 balls as the Kingsmen slumped to 51-4.
Skipper South Shakeel then turned his hand and struck on his very first ball, claiming the crucial wicket of Labuschagne on 23 off 21 balls (3 boundaries), reducing Hyderabad to 57-5.
Irfan Khan Niazi and Hasan Khan crossed the 100-run mark with a useful 48-run partnership. The Kingsmen were under pressure at 105-6 when Ahmed Daniel dismissed Hasan Khan, who was brilliant with 31 off 19 balls (3 fours and a six).
Mahesh Deekshana 2 runs and Riley Meredith 3 runs unbeaten kept Hyderabad short in the end.