Usman, Rossouw help Gladiators secure a crucial win over defending champions

Staff Report

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators jumped from sixth to fourth on the points table as they secured a crucial six-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars to bounce back from their eight-wicket loss to Peshawar Zalmi here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Friday night. After Usman Tariq took 3-18 and Jahandad Khan picked up as many wickets for 35 runs, Quetta restricted Qalandars to 134 all out. In turn, a century partnership from Rilee Rossouw, who scored his second half-century in HBL PSL 11, and Hasan Nawaz, who missed his fifty by one run, sealed the game for Gladiators. Lahore Qalandars have now incurred a nine-wicket, 76-run and a six-wicket loss in Karachi and find themselves at seventh with only four points to their name. Quetta displaced Hyderabad Kingsmen at the fourth spot based on better net run rate pushing them a spot below. Karachi Kings have also six points but are placed sixth. Meanwhile, table toppers Peshawar Zalmi have now qualified for the playoffs with three game still to go and 13 points in the bag.

Qalandars, who are set to take the field again on Saturday against Rawalpindiz, opted to bat first and were blown away by Gladiators pacers Alzarri Joseph, Jahandad and Saqib Khan with just 42 runs on the board for the loss of four wickets in 6.3 overs. Jahandad castled Mohammad Naeem early, while Joseph accounted for aggressive Fakhar Zaman (20, 11b, 4x4s) and incoming no.4 batter Charith Asalanka. Saqib trapped Mohammad Farooq leg-before to claim his maiden HBL PSL wicket. Player of the match Usman Tariq then jolted Qalandars who were trying to recover with sluggish 18-run fifth-wicket stand between Abdullah Shafique (17, 22b, 1×4) and Haseebullah (33, 37b, 4x4s) with two wickets in 11th over. He got Abdullah stumped and Shaheen Shah Afridi leg-before for a two-ball duck. Sikandar (15, 17b, 1×4) became Usman’s third wicket as he was castled with Qalandars languishing at 84-7 in 16.1 overs. That the Qalandars were able to post a healthy total was largely due to Usama Mir playing a blinder seven-ball 22 cameo at no.10. He struck three sixes and a four overall and took 24 runs off the penultimate over with Haseebullah.

Jahandad picked up two wickets on the penultimate and second-last ball of the 20th over after Usama had hit him for a six and a four. Daniel Sams remained unbeaten on 12 off eight balls hitting two fours as Qalandars were dismissed for 134. In turn, Shaheen removed Shamyl Hussain for a three-ball duck, picking up a wicket in the opening over for the 25th time in HBL PSL. In the third over, Saud Shakeel was run out by Asalanka as Qalandars sensed an opportunity. Rossouw and Nawaz then put the Qalandars bowlers on back foot for the next 69 balls putting on 104 runs. Rossouw finished with 60 off 49 balls hitting five fours and two sixes, while Hasan fell to Sikandar for 49 off 32 balls after hitting six delightful fours and two sixes. Haris Rauf’s dismissal of Dinesh Chandimal, who replaced the ill Tom Curran in this game, did not affect Gladiators as they romped home with 22 balls to spare.

Brief scores:

Quetta Gladiators beat Lahore Qalandars by six wickets at National Bank Stadium, Karachi

Lahore Qalandars 134 all out, 19.5 overs (Haseebullah 33, Usama Mir 22, Fakhar Zaman 20; Usman Tariq 3-18, Jahandad Khan 3-35, Alzarri Joseph 2-41) VS Quetta Gladiators 138-4, 16.2 overs (Rilee Rossouw 60 not out, Hasan Nawaz 49)

Player of the Match – Usman Tariq (Quetta Gladiators).