At the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Qalandars kept their season alive with a tense, low-margin win over the Quetta Gladiators, prevailing by nine runs. Riding on Fakhar Zaman’s explosive century, the hosts posted 197/6 and then tightened the screws with disciplined death-over bowling to restrict Quetta to 188/7, handing the Gladiators a narrow defeat.
Lahore’s innings: Zaman’s destructive century sets the tone
After winning the toss, Qalandars chose to bat first and built a total that looked difficult to chase as the innings progressed. The standout performer was Fakhar Zaman, who took control almost immediately and carried the innings on his shoulders.
- Zaman struck 103 off 51 balls, smashing 11 fours and clearing the ropes for six sixes.
- He reached his century in dramatic fashion by launching Abrar Ahmed into the stands.
- Even as wickets fell around him, he remained steady and ensured Lahore stayed near the 200-mark.
- Charith Asalanka added 31 off 24 balls to provide crucial support.
- Daniel Sams contributed late momentum, finishing with 18 off 12 deliveries.
Quetta’s bowling: Khalil Ahmed leads the hunt, but the damage was done
Quetta’s bowlers fought hard for breakthroughs, yet Zaman’s acceleration made it hard to stem the flow of runs. Khalil Ahmed emerged as the most effective option, while others managed wickets but couldn’t fully prevent Lahore from posting a challenging score.
- Khalil Ahmed took 2 wickets for 38 runs.
- Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed each claimed one wicket apiece, though both were expensive across their four-over spells.
Quetta’s chase: early spark, Rossouw’s takeover, then Lahore’s late control
Chasing 198, the Gladiators started with urgency. Shamyl Hussain provided an immediate push, but the contest swung decisively when Rilee Rossouw took charge in the middle overs.
- Shamyl Hussain made 53 off 31 balls, including five boundaries and three sixes.
- Rossouw then delivered a dramatic counterpunch, scoring 62 off 29 balls at a strike rate of 213.79.
- His innings featured five sixes and five boundaries, and at one stage Quetta looked set for an extraordinary chase.
Death-overs pressure turns the game
Just when the Gladiators appeared to be moving towards the target, Lahore’s bowling unit tightened up in the final overs. Haris Rauf played a key role, delivering crucial breakthroughs and keeping Quetta from finishing strong.
- Haris Rauf finished with 2 for 28, taking important wickets as the match threatened to slip away.
- Shaheen Afridi, Sikandar Raza, and Usama Mir also chipped in with one wicket each, helping squeeze Quetta’s scoring rate.
- A late surge from Abrar brought 24 runs, but it wasn’t enough to overhaul the deficit.
Result and brief scores
Quetta ultimately fell short, finishing on 188/7 in their 20 overs—nine runs behind Lahore’s total.
Brief scores: Lahore Qalandars 197/6 (20 overs) — Fakhar Zaman 103, Charith Asalanka 31; Khalil Ahmed 2/38. Quetta Gladiators 188/7 (20 overs) — Rilee Rossouw 62, Shamyl Hussain 53; Haris Rauf 2/28. Lahore won by 9 runs.
