Lahore Qalandars 219/6 (Fakhar 67, Billings 50, Abrar 2-33) beat Quetta Gladiators 140 (Rossouw 44, Rishad 3-31, Shaheen 2-6) by 79 runs*
The Lahore Qalandars bounced back in emphatic fashion with a crushing 79-run win over the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), thanks to explosive batting from Fakhar Zaman and Sam Billings, followed by a ruthless bowling display led by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Power-Packed Batting Sets the Tone for Qalandars
After a shaky start to the tournament, the Qalandars came out firing with the bat. Fakhar Zaman led the charge with a sensational 67 off 39 balls, while Sam Billings lit up the death overs with a jaw-dropping unbeaten 50* from just 19 deliveries β the fastest fifty in the PSL in two years.
The Qalandars posted a mammoth 219/6, capitalizing on a lackluster bowling effort from Quetta. Although Gladiators managed to keep things tight in the first three overs, the momentum shifted when Abdullah Shafique unleashed a flurry of boundaries, particularly targeting Mohammad Amir and Faheem Ashraf. Shafiqueβs blitz, including 17 runs in the final powerplay over, set the tone for what would follow.
Once Shafique fell, Fakhar took over, smashing Akeal Hosein and Shoaib Malik to keep the run rate soaring. Despite a mini-collapse in the middle overs, Sam Billings ensured a powerful finish β hammering 44 runs off his last 15 balls, including back-to-back sixes to close the innings.
Shaheen, Rishad Rip Through Gladiators in Clinical Bowling Display
Defending 219, Lahore Qalandars came out with ruthless intent. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in his very first over, dismissing Saud Shakeel, and then removed Finn Allen shortly after. Asif Afridi chipped in to remove Hasan Nawaz, reducing Quetta to 10/3 within the first three overs.
A brief counterattack from Rilee Rossouw (44 off 18) and Kusal Mendis gave the Gladiators a glimmer of hope, adding 45 runs in a spirited partnership. However, Haris Rauf removed Mendis just before the end of the powerplay, and with that, the last resistance crumbled.
Rossouw’s aggressive innings came to a dramatic end when he missed a topspinner from Rishad Hossain, who went on to pick three wickets. Alongside Sikandar Raza, the Qalandars’ spinners wrapped up the lower order with ease. Faheem Ashraf added a few late blows, but by then, the result was well beyond doubt.
Qalandars Bounce Back in Style
After suffering a heavy defeat in their season opener, this dominant win over the Gladiators puts Lahore Qalandars firmly back on track. Their aggressive brand of cricket, led by star performers Fakhar, Billings, and Shaheen, sent a clear message to the rest of the league.