Led by Khawaja Nafey’s brilliant half-century and Akeal Hosein’s disciplined bowling, Quetta Gladiators clinched their second consecutive win in PSL 2024 by defeating Lahore Qalandars by five wickets at the Gadaffi Stadium.
Chasing a challenging target of 188 runs, Gladiators got off to a steady start, capitalizing on loose deliveries from Lahore’s bowlers. Despite early breakthroughs from Zaman Khan and Sikandar Raza, the visitors maintained their momentum, with key contributions from Saud Shakeel and Jason Roy. Shakeel’s aggressive approach and Roy’s stability laid the foundation for Gladiators’ successful run-chase.
While Qalandars’ bowlers attempted to create pressure, Gladiators’ batsmen remained composed, with Rafay steering the team to victory with an unbeaten half-century.
Earlier in the day, Lahore Qalandars struggled to accelerate their innings after opting to bat first. Akeal Hosein’s exceptional bowling restricted Qalandars’ batsmen, with Fakhar Zaman failing to capitalize on early chances. Despite Sahibzada Farhan’s valiant effort, supported by Jahandad Khan’s late blitz, Qalandars posted a total of 187 runs.
Hosein’s tight spell, coupled with effective bowling from Abrar Ahmad and Mohammad Wasim Jr., kept Qalandars’ scoring rate in check. However, Jahandad Khan’s explosive cameo propelled Qalandars to a competitive total, albeit falling short of securing victory.
With this victory, Quetta Gladiators maintain their winning streak in PSL 2024, showcasing their formidable batting and bowling prowess in the tournament.
