Fakhar, Ghulam and bowling unit sealed a one-sided victory for Qalandars over Gladiators
Lahore Qalandars had won the toss and elected to field first. Gladiators started the innings in a very bad way as they lost two wickets in the first over of the innings.
Jason Roy gloved the second ball of the game to Phil Salts behind the stumps, and the Gladiators once more began to look like the tepid, unimpressive side that just managed just one win in four games without him.
After one down, James Vince was cleaned up with a wonderful, dashing between bat and pad to clean up the stumps.
Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman, and Rashid took turns bowling during the power play but each maintained control over the Gladiators batters, who could only manage to score 39-4 after the end of the first power play.
Quetta Gladiators was never in the game as they regularly lose the wickets. Their batters look rusty against pacers and lost so much ground early that they couldn’t make much of a mark against spinners either.
The recovery came initially through little cameo Umar Akmal, and then a 51 run stand between Iftikhar Ahmad and Hassan Ai. Iftikhar scored a 39 ball 52 to ensure that Gladiators would have something to bowl.
Quetta Gladiators had set a total of 141-7 after 20 overs.
The Qalandars didn’t go hard in the power play, as Ghulam Mudassar removed Abdullah Shafique early. Then, Fakhar and Kamran Ghulam played some sensational innings
It was never really a challenge for the home side, with the fifties from Fakhar Zaman and Kamran Ghulam. Fakhar struck six boundaries during 42 balls 53 and even when he top-edged one-off Noor Ahmed to end his knock, his side required just 24 more in 27 balls.
Lahore Qalandars beat Quetta Gladiators by 8 wickets. While the PSL is more halfway through and Lahore has one foot away to qualify for the playoffs.
Shaheen Afridi, Lahore Captain and Player of the Match:
(On bowling to Jason Roy after he got a century) In T20s anything can happen on the day. He is also good. Things worked for me today. My plan to him was to swing it early today. (On captaincy and bowling changes) I am enjoying it and all bowlers I turn to are doing well, including Fakhar Zaman. Hope we continue to go well.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Quetta Captain:
We lost four wickets in the powerplay and could not get score after that. The total was low and that led to the loss. (On the selection and suitability of the top order) We are putting our best batting line up on the field and I’m sure about our skills. (On improving bowling) We need to take wickets regularly and that will yield desired results.
Fakhar Zaman:
On his form Feels good, I’m trying to score quick and get into an innings. Our gameplay has not changed much but the wickets are suiting our bowlers and batters. It’s not easy to come in and score from the get go. Our bowlers have done really well and we have managed to score runs too which gives us an advantage. On Shaheen: you can see how he has improved and proven himself. I’ve observed it as a senior and he’s been very good.
Lahore Qalandars 143 for 2 (Fakhar 53, Ghulam 55*) beat Quetta Gladiators 141 for 7 (Iftikhar 52, Afridi 2-27, Wiese 2-25) by eight wickets.