LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars registered their fourth win by defeating Quetta Gladiators by nine runs in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing 198, the Gladiators were restricted to 188-7 in their 20 overs.
Gladiators got off to a strong start as openers Shamil Hussain and skipper Saud Shakeel scored runs fluently. Sikandar Raza, however, overcame an opening stand of 49 and dismissed South for 17 runs off one ball, including three fours.
Shamil then forged a steady partnership with Riley Rossouw to stabilize the innings and take the total past 50. The young opener brought up his third PSL half-century and kept his side in the chase.
However, his innings ended with a run out thanks to a sharp throw from Daniel Sams, who dismissed wicketkeeper Hasibullah Khan. Shamil scored 53 off 31 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes as the score was 88-2 in 9.4 overs.
In the very next ball, Haris Raoob ducked Hasan Nawaz in the very first ball and dismissed him. Rossov and Khawaja Nafe added valuable runs to take the total past 100.
Rossov looked in sublime touch, hitting boundaries at will and reaching his 13th PSL half-century. However, their 40 was broken by Ubaid Shah, who smashed 62 off 29 balls, including 5 fours and 5 sixes, to dismiss Roseau as the Gladiators were reduced to 149-5 in 14.5 overs.
The Gladiators then lost successive wickets, with Bevon Jacobs falling cheaply to Shaheen Afridi. Brett Hampton was also dismissed soon after and Rauf was bowled by a sharp yorker who claimed his second wicket after scoring 7 runs in as many balls.
With his team needing 19 runs off the final over, Abrar Ahmed kept the scoreboard ticking, finding boundaries to ease the pressure.
Harris Raouf bowled the last over and conceded just nine runs to ensure his team’s victory. Abrar was unbeaten on 24 off 14 balls with 5 fours while Alsari Joseph was unbeaten with 3.
Batting first, Lahore Qalandars scored 197-6 in the allotted 20 overs, with key contributions from Faqar Zaman and Sarith Asalanga.
The innings got off to a shaky start as fast bowler Khalil Ahmed removed Mohammad Farooq for four in five balls to give Quetta an early breakthrough.
Faqar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique then settled the innings with a cohesive partnership and eased the pressure on their side. Zaman dominated the scoring.
Abrar Ahmed eventually broke the 57-run partnership with Shafiq for 14 off 15 balls, including 2 fours, as Lahore were 64-2 in 6.4 overs.
Zaman aggressively anchored the innings and brought up his 26th PSL half-century with a flurry of boundaries. He was well supported by Charit Asalanga as the duo forged another crucial partnership and took the team past 100 runs.
The left-arm opener registered his third PSL century, displayed an exceptional stroke play and took Lahore past 150.
Brett Hampton then took Asalanga to 31 off 24 balls, with three fours and a six in an innings, to end their 96-run partnership.
Usman Tariq was dismissed soon after with a brilliant 103 off 51 balls, including 11 fours and 6 sixes, to leave Lahore at 164-4 in 16.1 overs.
Khalil Ahmed got his second wicket back, hitting Sikandar Raza for five in five balls as Lahore lost their fifth wicket.
Lahore Qalandars ended the innings at 197-6. Shaheen Afridi was run out by Alzari Joseph for 8 and Daniel Sams remained unbeaten on 18 off 12 balls with a four and a six.