Quetta Gladiators kept their playoffs hopes alive as they beat Lahore Qalandars by 18 runs to register their second win in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Qalandars saw another batting collapse and now have suffered two losses on the trot.
After this crucial victory, Quetta Gladiators still have a mathematical chance of making it to the playoffs stage but will need some other results to go their way. In the first innings, the Qalandars’ bowlers bowled brilliantly, with James Faulkner grabbing three wickets, while Rashid Khan and Mohammad Hafeez picked up a wicket each. From Quetta, Jake Weatherald top-scored with 48 while Azam Khan made 33.
In the last five overs, Gladiators managed to score 45 runs, Sarfaraz unbeaten 34 off 27 helped the struggling side set a 159-run target against Lahore Qalandars. In the second innings, Gladiators bowlers came out with specific plans and executed them to perfection.
Usman Khan Shinwari removed captain Sohail Akhtar for duck in the first over.
Mohammad Hasnain dislodged Fakhar Zaman’s stumps on in the fourth over. The collapse began with Mohammad Hafeez (1) and Zeeshan Ashraf (16) dismissals.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, slashed 12 runs, was dismissed by Shahzad in the 17th over, while Hasnain sent Haris Rauf (19) back to the pavilion in the 18th over to end the match and take the Gladiators to victory for Gladiators.
Khurram Shehzad playing in his second game bagged 3/14 while Usman Shinwari took 3/32 and was adjudged as man of the match. Mohammad Nawaz and Hasnain take two wickets each.
