Spirited Gladiators overpower Qalandars

LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators overpowered struggling Lahore Qalandars in the fifth match of the Pakistan Super League 2024 here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday night.

Quetta earlier with controlled bowling and later their batters especially opener Sahibzada Farhan and then Khawaja Mohammad Nafay played a sheet-anchor role in undoing somewhat resistant Lahore put their way. In chase of Lahore Qalandars’s 187 for seven, Farhan posted 40 runs while Nafay for his maiden match-winning half century revamped the required score, getting Quetta 188 runs for five winning by five wickets with five balls to spare.

Unbeaten Nafay produced a breathtaking 60 in 31 balls while Akeal Hosein was the other not out bat.

With rest day at Lahore on Tuesday, the PSL excitement will move for the day to Multan for a match between Multan Sultans and Islamabad United in the evening. In reply, Quetta straightway took charge of the game firing off an average way above the required runrate set by Lahore. Jason Roy and Saud Shakeel initiated their partnership from where they left in the previous match against Peshawar Zalmi. The two gladiators after laying a solid platform lasted together till the score reached 69 and it was Shakeel who at 40 conceded his wicket to Zaman Khan.