Lahore Qalandars thrashed Quetta Gladiators by 79 runs in the 4th match of PSL10 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
This win was marked by stellar performances in both the batting and bowling departments.
Chasing a daunting target of 220, Quetta crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for just 140 runs, thanks to a clinical bowling display by the Qalandars.
Quetta Gladiators' pursuit of the target began on a shaky note.
Opener Saud Shakeel was dismissed for just one run by Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi with the team score at 2.
The collapse continued as Finn Allen fell for a duck, also to Afridi, while Hasan Nawaz was removed by Asif Afridi after scoring just one, leaving Quetta struggling at 9 for 3.
Although Mendis showed some resistance with a steady 28, he was caught off Haris Rauf’s bowling with the team at 54.
Rilee Rossouw offered a glimmer of hope with a solid 44 but was bowled by Rishad Hossain as Quetta reached 89 for 5 in 8.5 overs.
The middle and lower orders crumbled quickly.
Shoaib Malik, Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Amir, and Abrar Ahmed were all dismissed in quick succession, as the Gladiators found themselves reeling at 114.
Faheem Ashraf managed to contribute 21 runs before becoming the final wicket to fall with the team's total at 140 in 16.2 overs.
Rishad Hossain was the standout bowler for the Qalandars, claiming three wickets.
Shaheen Afridi, Asif Afridi, and Sikandar Raza each took two wickets, while Haris Rauf chipped in with one.
earlier, Fakhar Zaman and Sam Billings’ fifties propel Lahore Qalandars to set a formidable 220-run target for Quetta Gladiators.
Lahore Qalandars posted a commanding total of 219 for six wickets in the stipulated overs.
Asked to bat first, Qalandars initially faced a loss of opening batter Mohammad Naeem, who was clean bowled by leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed for just 10 runs. The team stood at a wobbly 17/1 in 2.3 overs.
However, the early blow did little to slow down the scoring rate, as Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique stepped up with an aggressive counterattack.
The pair made together a brisk 56-run stand for the second wicket. Abdullah Shafique smashed 37 off just 21 balls before falling to Akeel Hosein in the 8th over, leaving Qalandars at 73/2.
Fakhar Zaman continued to anchor the innings with his trademark attacking style.
He brought up his 20th PSL fifty in style and looked set for a big score.
Daryl Mitchell provided steady support, rotating the strike effectively and finding the gaps to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Together, they compiled a vital 80-run partnership, taking the team past the 150-run milestone by the 15th over.
Abrar Ahmed returned to dismiss Mitchell for 37, breaking the stand at 153/3 in the 14.5th over.
Just an over later, Fakhar Zaman’s blistering knock came to an end as he was dismissed for a brilliant 67 off 39 balls, laced with seven fours and three sixes.
Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza then attempted to consolidate in the death overs.
Although Raza fell cheaply for six, courtesy of Usman Tariq, Billings launched a fiery onslaught in the final overs.
The Englishman remained unbeaten at 50 off just 19 balls, laced with four sixes.
Skipper Shaheen Afridi was dismissed for seven in the final over, but the damage had already been done.
Among the Gladiators’ bowlers, Abrar Ahmed and Akeal Hosein were the most successful, picking up two wickets apiece.
Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq chipped in with one wicket each but were unable to prevent Qalandars from posting a formidable total.
Teams
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Finn Allen, Hassan Nawaz, Kusal Mendis (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Shoaib Malik, Faheem Ashraf, Akeal Hosain, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, Shaheen Afridi (c), Jahandad Khan, Rishad Hossain, Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi