Quetta Gladiators registered their second victory of the tournament by defeating Lahore Qalandars by 18 runs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday, 15 June.
Khurram Shahzad and Usman Shinwari picked up three wickets each to restrict the Qalandars to 140 after Jake Weatherald’s 48 helped the Gladiators reach 158/5.
Sohail Akhtar won the toss and put Sarfraz Ahmed’s side in. Usman Khan went for a four-ball duck before Weatherald and Cameron Delport added 58 runs for the second wicket. Of these runs, Delport got only an 11-ball 10 before falling to Rashid Khan in the ninth over. Gladiators lost Weatherald next over.
Sarfraz then forged a crucial partnership with Azam Khan, whose quickfire 33 propelled the team to 158/5. Sarfaraz himself struggled to find rhythm and managed just 34 in 27 balls.
James Faulkner picked up three wickets, while Mohammad Hafeez and Rashid Khan got a wicket apiece.
Lahore got off a horrible start, losing four wickets inside the Powerplay. Skipper Sohail Akhtar was dismissed by Shinwari on the second ball of the innings for a duck. Shinwari then got Hafeez a few moments later, and Ben Dunk’s dismissal in the seventh over reduced them to 47/5.
Tim David offered resistance in the middle, making 46 off 27 deliveries with four fours and three sixes. He offered a glimmer of hope for Lahore before becoming the third victim for Shinwari.
Lahore’s tail wagged, but not enough to prevent a defeat. They did not even last the full 20 overs. Shinwari bagged the Player of the Match award for his 4-0-32-3.
Brief score: Quetta Gladiators 158/5 (Weatherald 48; Faulkner 3-25) beat Lahore Qalandars 140 in 18 overs (David 46; Shinwari 3-32) by 18 runs. Player of the Match: Usman Shinwari.