Lahore Qalandars on Thursday defeated Quetta Gladiators by 17 runs in the 18th fixture of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Qalandars restricted the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Gladiators to 131-7 in 20 overs, as they struggled to chase their 149-runs target.
Qalandars continue to rule the points table with the top-most position, while Gladiators languish at the bottom-most place. Yasir Khan and Will Smeed added 53 runs for the first wicket before the former was dismissed after scoring 14 runs in 15 balls on the final delivery of the powerplay bowled by Haris Rauf.
Meanwhile, Rashid Khan sent Smeed back to the hut after trapping the batter in front of the stumps. The right-hander scored 32 runs in 25 balls. Mohammad Hafeez (2) was run-out after a direct hit by Fakhar Zaman crashed into the stumps.
In his last over, Rashid also secured the important wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed to add pressure on Quetta. The Afghanistan leg-spinner finished with impressive figures of 2-14 in four overs.
Quetta’s hopes were further dented when Martin Guptill, 15 runs in 20 balls, sent one straight down cow corner’s throat off the bowling of David Wiese.
