In the 26th match of the Pakistan Super League at Karachi, Quetta Gladiators delivered a commanding performance to defeat Lahore Qalandars by 6 wickets, chasing down the target with authority.
Batting first, Lahore Qalandars had a shaky start as they lost three wickets during the powerplay, managing just 42 runs. The early breakthroughs put them on the back foot, and the pressure only intensified as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
Despite brief resistance from Haseebullah Khan (14) and Sikandar Raza (13), Qalandars struggled to build partnerships. By the 15-over mark, they were reeling at 77/6. Lower-order contributions, including a small cameo from DR Sams (12), helped push the total past 130, but the innings ended at 134 all out in 19.5 overs — a below-par score considering the conditions.
Quetta Gladiators approached the chase with confidence. Although they lost an early wicket due to a successful review against Saud Shakeel, the innings quickly stabilized. The highlight of the chase was a brilliant partnership between Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz.
The duo stitched together a match-winning stand, first reaching a 50-run partnership and then extending it to 100 runs, completely shifting the momentum. Rossouw played a composed and impactful knock, bringing up his half-century in 42 balls with a mix of boundaries and calculated aggression.
By the time the strategic timeout was taken, Gladiators were firmly in control at 122/4. From there, the chase was a mere formality as they comfortably reached 138/4 in just 16.2 overs, sealing victory with 22 balls remaining.
Earlier, it was Usman Tariq who laid the foundation for this win with an outstanding bowling performance. His figures of 3/18 dismantled Lahore’s batting lineup and earned him the Player of the Match award.
This dominant victory strengthens Quetta Gladiators’ position in the tournament, while Lahore Qalandars will need to regroup after another inconsistent batting display.