Qalandars thrash Gladiators by 79 runs to notch their maiden victory in PSL 10
RAWALPINDI: Lahore Qalandars finally broke their losing streak in PSL 10 with a dominant performance, overpowering Quetta Gladiators by 79 runs at the Pindi Cricket Stadium to register their first win of the season.
Set a steep target of 220, Quetta collapsed under relentless pressure and were bundled out for 140, courtesy of a disciplined and ruthless bowling effort by the Qalandars.
Captain Shaheen Afridi led from the front, making an immediate impact by removing Saud Shakeel for just one in the opening over.
The early damage continued as Asif Afridi dismissed Hassan Nawaz for one, and Shaheen returned to trap Finn Allen for a duck, leaving Quetta in disarray at 9 for 3 in 3.2 overs.
A brief fightback came through Rilee Rossouw and Kusal Mendis, who stitched together a 45-run stand. Mendis threatened with a rapid 28 off 14 before Haris Rauf broke the partnership, reducing Quetta to 54 for 4 by the end of the sixth over.
Rossouw counterattacked with a blazing 44 off 19, peppered with four boundaries and four sixes, but his charge was halted by Rishad Hossain, who claimed his first PSL wicket.
The Gladiators’ innings unraveled further as Sikandar Raza removed both Shoaib Malik (14) and Akeal Hosein in a double strike. Rishad Hossain returned to dismiss Mohammad Amir and later Abrar Ahmed, bagging three wickets in total, while Asif Afridi wrapped up the innings to seal a commanding win for the defending champions.
Earlier, Lahore’s innings had a shaky start as Mohammad Naeem was bowled by Abrar Ahmed for 10. Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique steadied the innings with a 56-run partnership, with Shafique contributing a lively 37 before falling to Akeal Hosein.
Fakhar continued his fluent form, notching up his 20th PSL half-century. He shared an 80-run stand with Daryl Mitchell, who played a steady hand with an unbeaten 37. Abrar returned to dismiss Mitchell, followed by Fakhar’s departure after a superb 67 off 39 deliveries.
Sam Billings then turned on the fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 50 from just 19 balls to lift Lahore to a formidable total of 220, despite late wickets including Sikandar Raza and Shaheen Afridi.
Quetta’s bowling effort was led by Akeal Hosein and Abrar Ahmed with two wickets each, while Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq picked up one apiece.
