Gladiators’ hopes to move into playoffs still alive

The Quetta Gladiators’ recent victory against Peshawar Zalmi have helped the team keep their hopes for playoffs alive.

Jason Roy’s marathon 145-run knock and Mohammad Hafeez’s crucial 41-run cameo played a key role in gaining the victory.

The victory had also helped Quetta Gladiators climb one rank higher from the bottom on the points table. They now rank fifth with six points.

In the last match against Peshawar Zalmi, the Gladiators had a mountain to climb to stay alive in the tournament as the former champions needed to pull off the highest-ever run chase, and eventually they did so with 10 balls to spare at the back of a scintillating knock by Roy.

It is to be noted here that there are two scenarios that can help Quetta Gladiators make their way into the playoffs.

First, if Quetta Gladiators win their next match against Multan Sultans and hope for Peshawar Zalmi to lose all of their remaining matches.

Or, if Quetta Gladiators win against Multan Sultans while Peshawar Zalmi win one more match and lose two other matches. In this case, both the teams will be tied with eight points.

Second, if Quetta Gladiators beat Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi also beat Multan Sultans but lose to Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars, and Multan Sultans lose all the remaining three games against Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United, the three teams will have eight points each.

It also merits a mention here that luck will have to favour the Gladiators unconditionally.