Lahore Qalandars stormed back into PSL X with a commanding 79-run victory over Quetta Gladiators, as Fakhar Zaman, Sam Billings, and a spin-powered bowling performance lit up the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday night.
Defending a formidable 219-run total, Lahore’s spinners strangled the Gladiators, sharing seven wickets between them and bowling out the opposition for 140 in just 16.2 overs. It was a complete team effort by the defending champions, rebounding emphatically after a stuttering start to their campaign.
Fakhar led the charge with the bat, smashing 67 off 39 balls (7x4s, 3x6s), first in a 56-run partnership with Abdullah Shafique (37 off 21), then in a free-flowing 80-run stand with Daryl Mitchell (37 off 23). The Qalandars built momentum after Abrar Ahmed picked up an early wicket, reaching 150 inside 15 overs.
But the final flourish came from Sam Billings, who blasted an unbeaten 50 off just 19 balls, peppering the boundary with four fours and four sixes. His late blitz carried Lahore to 219 for 6 — their third highest PSL total, behind 241 and 226 in last year’s edition.
In response, Quetta were immediately on the back foot. Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled a fiery opening spell, removing Saud Shakeel and Finn Allen in his first over, while Asif Afridi joined in by dismissing Hasan Nawaz, reducing Gladiators to 9 for 3.
Rilee Rossouw (44 off 19) and Kusal Mendis (28 off 14) counterattacked with a 45-run burst, but their resistance was short-lived. Haris Rauf snared Mendis in the sixth over before the spin trio spun a web around the middle and lower order.
Rishad Hussain (3-31) cleaned up Rossouw and later returned to dismiss Mohammad Amir and Abrar Ahmed. Sikandar Raza (2-12) struck twice in the 12th over, while Asif Afridi (2-20) wrapped things up by bowling Faheem Ashraf, sealing a statement win for Lahore.
Scores in brief:
Match 4 – Lahore Qalandars beat Quetta Gladiators by 79 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Lahore Qalandars: 219-6 in 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 67, Sam Billings 50*, Abdullah Shafique 37, Daryl Mitchell 37; Abrar Ahmed 2-33, Akeal Hosein 2-40)
Quetta Gladiators: 140 all out in 16.2 overs (Rilee Rossouw 44, Kusal Mendis 28; Rishad Hussain 3-31, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-6, Sikandar Raza 2-12, Asif Afridi 2-20)
Player of the Match: Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars)
Next Fixture: Monday – Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; 8:00 PM PKT
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