Quetta Gladiators produced a commanding all-round display to outclass defending champions Lahore Qalandars by six wickets in the 26th fixture of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, played at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Lahore Qalandars failed to capitalize on the decision as their batting lineup collapsed for a modest 134 in 19.5 overs. The innings never gained momentum, with regular wickets halting any attempt at stability.
Haseebullah Khan offered the most resistance with a patient 33 off 37 deliveries, while Fakhar Zaman contributed 20 runs at the top. Lower down the order, Usama Mir added 22, but the rest of the batting unit struggled to cope with disciplined bowling.
Quetta’s attack dominated proceedings, with Usman Tariq and Jahandad Khan leading the charge by claiming three wickets each. Alzarri Joseph also made a significant impact with two dismissals, while Saqib Khan chipped in with one to wrap up the innings efficiently.
Chasing a relatively low target of 135, Quetta Gladiators recovered strongly after an early setback that saw both openers back in the pavilion with just 11 runs on the board. Despite the shaky start, the chase was never truly in doubt.
Rilee Rossouw anchored the innings with an unbeaten 60 off 49 balls, playing a controlled yet assertive knock featuring five boundaries and two sixes. He found strong support in Hasan Nawaz, who played a fluent innings of 49 from just 32 deliveries, striking six fours and two sixes.
Together, the pair stitched a crucial 104-run partnership for the third wicket, effectively breaking the backbone of Lahore’s defense and steering the match firmly in Quetta’s favor. The target was eventually achieved in 16.2 overs with four wickets down.
For Lahore, wickets were shared among Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza, and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, but the effort proved insufficient to defend the low total.
The win strengthened Quetta Gladiators’ position on the points table, lifting them to fourth place with six points from seven matches and an improved net run rate of 0.483. This shift also pushed Karachi Kings and Hyderabad Kingsmen further down the standings.
Meanwhile, Lahore Qalandars continued their disappointing campaign, suffering a third consecutive defeat. They remain in seventh position with four points from seven matches, narrowly staying ahead of Rawalpindi, who are yet to register a win.
At the top of the table, Peshawar Zalmi secured an early qualification for the playoffs with 13 points from seven games. Multan Sultans sit second with nine points, followed closely by Islamabad United with eight.
PSL 11 points table after Quetta Gladiators crush Lahore Qalandars
| Teams | Matches | Wins | Losses | No Results | Points | Net Run Rate |
| Peshawar Zalmi (Q) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 2.404 |
| Islamabad United | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1.481 |
| Multan Sultans | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0.527 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0.483 |
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 | -0.470 |
| Karachi Kings | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | -1.501 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | -1.020 |
| RawalPindiz | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | -1.821 |
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