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RAWALPINDI: Rishad Hossain’s three-wicket haul, along with half-centuries from Fakhar Zaman and Sam Billings, powered Lahore Qalandars to a massive win over Quetta Gladiators in the fourth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a mammoth total of 220, Gladiators were bundled out for 140 in 16.3 overs, thanks to dominant bowling display from Qalandars, registering their first win in PSL 10.
Lahore Qalandars bowlers ripped the top order of Quetta Gladiators in the opening overs. Qalandar’s skipper led from the front, removing openers Saud Shakeel (1) and Finn Allen (0) inside the first three overs.
Quetta Gladiators were 9-3 in 2.2 overs; however, Kusal Mendis and Rilee Rossouw’s 45-run partnership helped them, but it was cut, as Mendis was caught behind off Haris Rauf’s bowling. He scored 28 off 14 deliveries, laced with three fours and two sixes.
Following the wicket, Gladiators never looked in the chase and were eventually bundled out in the 16th over.
Rossouw displayed remarkable character and resilience, top-scoring with 44 off 19 balls, which included four sixes and four fours.
For Qalandars, Rishad Hossain was the pick of bowlers, taking three for 31 in his quota of four overs. Asif Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, and Sikandar Raza bagged two wickets each in an all-round bowling effort.
Fakhar Zaman was deemed ‘Player of the Match’ for his outstanding batting performance.
Earlier, after being invited to bat, Fakhar Zaman’s and Sam Billings’s half-centuries powered Lahore Qalandars to 219 for the loss of six wickets. in their 20 overs.
Quetta Gladiators skipper Saud Shakeel won the toss and opted to bowl first, which proved costly for their bowlers as Lahore Qalandars batters hammered them all around the park.
Qalandars lost their emerging opener Mohammad Naeem early on the score of 17. Following the early hiccup, Fakhar and previous match half-centurion Abdullah Shafique steadied Qalandar’s innings.
The duo quickly put on a 56-run partnership before Shafique was dismissed on 37 off Akeal Hosein.
On the other hand, the southpaw, along with Daryl Mitchell, built a crucial partnership of 80 runs off just 42 deliveries, which set the stage for the Qalandars to finish strong. The duo was dismissed in successive overs, keeping the door open for Gladiators for a recovery.
Fakhar scored 67 off 39 balls laced with seven fours and three sixes, while Mitchell equally supported with his 37 off 23 deliveries. Mitchell’s knock featured four fours and one six.
Quetta did make a comeback after taking the crucial wickets of Sikandar Raza (6) and Shaheen Afridi (3), but it was Sam Billings’ blistering half-century which propelled them to a total of 219 in their allocated overs.
The English batter was on song today, scoring an unbeaten 50 off 19 balls. He struck four fours and four sixes in his eye-catching half-century.
For the Gladiators, Abrar Ahmed and Akeal Hosein each took two wickets, while Faheem Ashraf conceded 49 runs in his three overs and took only one wicket.
PLAYING XIs
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