PSL 8: Qalandars outfox Gladiators in low-scoring game
Cricket
Sikandar Raza's blistering knock sets up crucial victory for Qalandars
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Sikandar Raza’s scintillating 34-ball 71 and bowlers’ brilliance stormed Lahore Qalandars to 17-run victory in low-scoring game in the 18th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Qaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
QUETTA GLADIATORS' INNINGS
Chasing a target of 149, the Qalandars’ bowlers restricted the Gladiators to 131-7 in 20 overs.
The target which seemed to be quite achievable, suddenly became a hectic task for the Gladiators to chase.
Haris Rauf spearheaded the Qalandars with the leather bagging three crucial wickets.
Surprisingly, the Qalandars were just one down for 53 in first six overs. But it was Haris Rauf who flummoxed Yasir Khan (14 off 15), Odean Smith (11 off 9) and Mohammad Nawaz (11 off 6).
Will Smeed (32 off 25) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (27 off 28) showed some sort of resistance with the bat for the Gladiators.
Martin Guptill (15 off 20), Mohammad Hafeez (2 off 7), Iftikar Ahmed (3 off 5) and Mohammad Nawaz (4 off 6) were also failed to play knocks.
Rauf bagged three by conceding only 22. Rashid Khan was absolutely amazing and scooped up two wickets and conceding only 14.
David Wiese was also brilliant with the bowling and claiming crucial wicket of New Zealander Martin Guptill.
— Quetta Gladiators (@TeamQuetta) March 2, 2023
LAHORE QALANDARS' INNINGS
After sent in to bat, Sikandar Raza’s scintillating 34-ball 71 and bowlers’ brilliance stormed Lahore Qalandars to 17-run victory in low-scoring game in the marquee tournament.
Sikandar Raza’s quickfire unbeaten 34-ball 71 powered Lahore Qalandars to 149-run target against Quetta Gladiators.
Qalandars were bundled out for 148 in the 20th over. At one stage, Qalandars were seven down for 50, but it was merely Sikandar Raza’s brilliance as he spearheaded the Qalandars’ batting lineup. In his unbeaten knock, Sikandar smacked eight boundaries and three towering sixers.
With the exception of Sikandar, only three batters, Abdullah Shafique (15 off 14), Shaheen Shah Afridi (16 off 16) and Rashid Khan (21 off 20) could reach double figure.
While the rest of the Qalandars’ batters including Sam Billings (2), Hussain Talat (6), David Wiese (2), Haris Rauf (0) and Zaman Khan (0) failed to show any significant resistance against the Gladiators’ bowlers.
Gladiators’ bowlers were exceptional, particularly at the early stage of the match. Naveen (2-36) and Nawaz (2-19) bagged two wickets apiece.
Naseem Shah (1-29), Umaid Asif (1-33) and Odean Smith (1-27) took a scalp each.
Mohammad Hafeez, was only given one over to bowl despite just conceding three runs.
— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) March 2, 2023
TOSS
Quetta Gladiators opted to field first against Lahore Qalandars in the domestic premium tournament.
In the last five encounters, Qalandars won on three and Gladiators on two occasions.
Gladiators made three changes in their squad, while the Qalandars were unchanged.
SQUADS
Quetta Gladiators
Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Martin Guptill, Yasir Khan, Will Smeed, Mohammad Hafeez, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Odean Smith, Naveen ul Haq and Umaid Asif
— Quetta Gladiators (@TeamQuetta) March 2, 2023
Lahore Qalandars
Shaheen Afridi (c), Tahir Baig, Sam Billings (wk), Abdullah Shafique, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, Rashid Khan, David Wiese, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf and Zaman Khan
— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) March 2, 2023
