Lahore Qalandars showcased their all-round brilliance in Match 4 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10, defeating Quetta Gladiators by a staggering 79 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Batting first, Lahore posted a mammoth total of 220, thanks to fireworks from Fakhar Zaman and Sam Billings. In reply, Quetta’s batting line-up collapsed under pressure, managing only 140 runs.
The game began with a shaky start for Lahore as Mohammad Naeem was clean-bowled for 10 by Abrar Ahmed. However, Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique stitched together a solid 56-run stand to steady the innings. Shafique chipped in with a quick 37 before Akeal Hosein ended his stay at the crease.
Fakhar was the mainstay, smashing a brilliant 67 off just 39 deliveries—his 20th PSL half-century. He was well-supported by Daryl Mitchell, who added an unbeaten 37 during an 80-run partnership. Sam Billings later stole the show with a brutal unbeaten 50 off just 19 balls, pushing Lahore to a formidable 220/7.
For Quetta, Akeal Hosein and Abrar Ahmed picked up two wickets each, while Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq took one apiece.
Chasing a tough target, Quetta lost early wickets in a fiery spell from Lahore’s bowling attack. Captain Shaheen Afridi made an immediate impact by removing Saud Shakeel for just 1 in the opening over. He returned in his next to dismiss Finn Allen for a golden duck, while Asif Afridi sent Hassan Nawaz packing, leaving Quetta at a miserable 9/3 in just 3.2 overs.
Although Rilee Rossouw and Kusal Mendis added 45 runs to resist the collapse, the Qalandars were relentless. Haris Rauf broke the partnership, dismissing Mendis for 28 off 14. Rossouw continued to fight with an aggressive 44 off 19 balls, laced with four fours and four sixes, but his innings was cut short by Rishad Hossain’s maiden PSL wicket.
From there, the Gladiators’ middle and lower order crumbled. Sikandar Raza removed Shoaib Malik and Akeal Hosein in the same over, while Rishad struck again to dismiss Mohammad Amir and Abrar Ahmed, bagging three wickets in total. Asif Afridi cleaned up the tail, sealing a dominant win for the defending champions.
This crushing win reflects Lahore Qalandars’ strength in all departments and sends a strong message to the rest of the league.