In the 18th match of the eighteenth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which took place on Thursday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Lahore Qalandars prevailed over Quetta Gladiators by a score of 17 runs. Quetta was held to 131-7 in 20 overs as they tried to score 149 runs. Will Smeed was out after scoring 14 runs in 15 balls on the final delivery of the powerplay bowled by Haris Rauf, adding 53 runs for the first wicket.
Smeed was trapped in front of the stumps by Rashid Khan, who sent him back to the hut. In 25 pitches, the right-hander allowed 32 runs. Mohammad Hafeez (2) was run out when Fakhar Zaman hit him directly in the stumps. In his final over, Rashid also took the crucial wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed to put more pressure on Quetta. In four overs, the leg spinner from Afghanistan posted impressive figures of 2-14. Martin Guptill destroyed Quetta’s hopes once more when he hit one off David Wiese’s bowling that went straight through cow corner for 15 runs in 20 balls.
Quetta continued to lose wickets as the required run rate increased, making it difficult for them to score boundaries at the tail end of the innings. It took Sarfaraz Ahmed 28 balls to reach his 27-run unbeaten mark. Sikandar Raza had a big day earlier when Lahore set Quetta a target of 149 runs with 71 unbeaten runs in 34 balls. In his explosive score, the Zimbabwean cricketer hit eight fours and three sixes.
Lahore were dismissed for 148 in 19.2 overs after being allowed to bat first. After falling to 50-7 against the Quetta Gladiators, Lahore was in danger of being eliminated for less than 100 runs. However, a crucial fifty partnership between Rashid Khan and Sikandar Raza brought their team back into the contest. After scoring 21 runs in 20 balls, Rashid was caught in the deep, but not before adding 69 runs in 39 balls with Raza. It is important to note that Quetta’s bowlers got their team off to a perfect start by bringing Lahore down to 29-4 in the first powerplay.
The competent Fakhar Zaman (4) was sent back to the pavilion by Umaid Asif’s direct hit. Asif also brought Mirza Tahir Baig (2) back to the pavilion. In the meantime, pacer Naveen-ul-Haq retired Hussain Talat and Sam Billings after they scored six runs and two runs, respectively. Qalandars were hoping that Abdullah Shafique would save the team after the early loss of wickets, but the right-hander was bowled out by Nawaz after scoring 15 runs in 14 balls.
Shaheen, the captain of Lahore, moved up in the batting order and started at number six. Shaheen was eliminated after scoring run-a-ball 16, so the experiment didn’t work out as planned. David Wiese (2) was sent packing by Nawaz, who took his second wicket after completing a straightforward catch and bowl. Due to discomfort in his ankle, fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain was rested against Lahore.
In the meantime, debuts have been made by Naveen-ul-Haq, Umaid Asif, and Yasir Khan, an emerging batter.
Quetta Gladiators Eleven Side
- Yasir Khan
- Martin Guptill
- Will Smeed
- Mohammad Hafeez
- Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk/c)
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Odean Smith
- Umaid Asif
- Naseem Shah
- Naveen-ul-Haq
Lahore Qalandars Eleven Side
- Fakhar Zaman
- Mirza Tahir Baig
- Sam Billings (wk)
- Abdullah Shafique
- Hussain Talat
- Sikandar Raza
- Rashid Khan
- David Wiese
- Shaheen Afridi (c)
- Haris Rauf
- Zaman Khan
Technical Analysis
Lahore Qalandars Clinch Victory Against Quetta Gladiators in PSL Thriller
The eighteenth match of the eighteenth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) saw Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators face off against each other at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Lahore Qalandars emerged victorious over Quetta Gladiators by a margin of 17 runs, thanks to some impressive performances by their players.
Quetta Gladiators won the toss and opted to field first. Lahore Qalandars were allowed to bat first and managed to score 148 runs in 19.2 overs before being dismissed. After a shaky start, Lahore Qalandars were in danger of being dismissed for less than 100 runs. But, a key fifty collaboration between Rashid Khan and Sikandar Raza drew their side back into the contest.
Rashid Khan, the leg spinner from Afghanistan, posted impressive figures of 2-14 in his four overs. He took the crucial wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed to put more pressure on Quetta, and later added 69 runs in 39 balls with Sikandar Raza. In his final over, Rashid also took the wicket of Will Smeed, who scored 14 runs in 15 balls. Mohammad Hafeez was run out when Fakhar Zaman hit him directly in the stumps.
As Lahore set Quetta a goal of 149 runs with 71 unbroken runs in 34 deliveries, Sikandar Raza had a tremendous day earlier. In his explosive score, the Zimbabwean cricketer hit eight fours and three sixes.
Quetta Gladiators were held to 131-7 in 20 overs as they tried to score 149 runs. Sarfaraz Ahmed was their top scorer, with an unbeaten 27 runs off 28 balls. They struggled to score boundaries at the tail end of the innings as the required run rate increased, making it difficult for them to chase down the target. It took them 53 runs for the first wicket, but after that, they continued to lose wickets.
Quetta’s bowlers got their team off to a perfect start by bringing Lahore down to 29-4 in the first powerplay. The competent Fakhar Zaman was sent back to the pavilion by Umaid Asif’s direct hit. Asif also brought Mirza Tahir Baig back to the pavilion. In the meantime, pacer Naveen-ul-Haq retired Hussain Talat and Sam Billings after they scored six runs and two runs, respectively.
Lahore Qalandars were hoping that Abdullah Shafique would save the team after the early loss of wickets, but the right-hander was bowled out by Nawaz after scoring 15 runs in 14 balls. Shaheen Afridi, the captain of Lahore, moved up in the batting order and started at number six. Shaheen was eliminated after scoring run-a-ball 16, so the experiment didn’t work out as planned. David Wiese was sent packing by Nawaz, who took his second wicket after completing a straightforward catch and bowl.
The absence of fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, who was rested due to discomfort in his ankle, was felt by Quetta Gladiators. However, debuts were made by Naveen-ul-Haq, Umaid Asif, and Yasir Khan, an emerging batter.
Overall, it was a thrilling match that saw Lahore Qalandars
Conclusion
Lahore Qalandars secured a crucial 17-run victory over Quetta Gladiators in the 18th match of the 18th season of Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Lahore’s Sikandar Raza played a vital role in setting a target of 149 runs, scoring an explosive 71 runs in 34 balls. Rashid Khan’s impressive bowling figures of 2-14 and Martin Guptill’s quickfire 15 runs off 20 balls further cemented Lahore’s victory. Quetta’s batting struggles continued, despite Sarfaraz Ahmed’s unbeaten 27 runs off 28 balls, ultimately leading to their defeat.