Lahore Qalandars defeated Quetta Gladiators by 17 runs today at Gaddafi Stadium in the 18th match of the Pakistan Super League 8 (PSL8) (Thursday).
Earlier, the Quetta Gladiators displayed excellent bowling, preventing the table toppers from setting a large target. Lahore Qalandars batted first and scored 148 runs in 19.2 overs, losing all ten wickets. Chasing the target, the entire Quetta Gladiators team collapsed at 131 for seven wickets in 20 overs.
In 20 overs, Gladiators bowled out Qalandars for 148 with four balls to spare. Sarfaraz Ahmed’s team dismantled the opening and middle order before Sikandar Raza came up with a heroic performance to help the team set a reasonable total.
Rashid Khan made 21 runs while no other player could cross the 20-run mark due to impressive bowling by Mohammad Nawaz, Naveenul Haq, Naseem Shah and others.
Earlier, Gladiators won the toss and opted to field first.
After flying high with back-to-back wins in the country’s flagship tournament, Shaheen Afridi-led Qalandars are set for another power-packed action at home ground. Playing at the same stadium in previous clashes, Qalandars managed to bag both of their fixtures.
Gladiators, after facing multiple blows in the ongoing Twenty20 league, will be looking for a comeback. The squad earlier was outfoxed by Qalandars in their last encounter.
The pitch at Gaddafi Stadium is said to be batting-friendly, which will help power strikers rack up big numbers.
Qalandars have been backed by their batters in previous games in Season 8 of the Pakistan Super League, as the team managed to surpass a 200-run score in the last game without a single fifty.
Purple Force, on the other hand, has failed to make an impression in the ongoing cricket tournament. Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmad and batsman Iftikhar Ahmad remained in form, but the franchise has yet to gain traction. Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, and Odean Smith, for example, have not had much success recently.
