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Shinwari, Shahzad hand Gladiators their second win of PSL 2021
Follow UsLahore Qalandars, on the other hand, succumbed to their second consecutive defeat
Three-wicket hauls from pacers Usman Shinwari and Khurram Shahzad hands Quetta Gladiators their second win of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 as the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side defeated Lahore Qalandars by 18 runs.
Initially, it was Jake Weatherald (48) and skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed (34*), who set the platform for the Gladiators, that helped Quetta set a competitive total of 158 for 5. Weatherald and Cameron Deplort added 58 runs for the second wicket after his side lost opener Usman Khan early. Sarfaraz and Azam Khan (33) then put on 43 for the fourth wicket.
James Faulkner was once again the pick of the bowlers for Qalandars, finishing with figures of 3 for 25. He now has 11 wickets from four matches this season. The Qalandars succumbed to their second consecutive defeat and find themselves in third position with 10 points from eight matches. Lahore had won their first two games since the restart.
Chasing 159, Qalandars were bowled out for 140 and never seemed in control of the chase. They had lost their top four batsmen inside powerplay and their troubles had begun from the second ball when Usman dismissed Sohail Akhtar.
Qalandars' woes deepened further after they were reduced to 40 for 4 in the powerplay. Mohammad Nawaz delivered a crucial blow as he bowled Ben Dunk and Rashid Khan in the seventh and ninth overs respectively. When it started to look all bleak for Qalandars, Tim David hammered Zahoor Khan for one four and two sixes in the 13th over as his team gathered 23 runs from it and then smashed Usman for successive fours at the start of the 15th over.
After threatening to take the game away from Quetta, David was caught behind for a 27-ball 46 off Shinwari, who had also dismissed Mohammad Hafeez for one and Sohail Akhtar for a duck earlier.
The Gladiators will look to add to their win when they take on Multan Sultans on Sunday (June 16). Qalandars, on the other hand, will look to get back to winning ways when they face Karachi Kings on Monday (June 17).
Brief scores:
Quetta Gladiators 158 for 5 in 20 overs (Jake Weatherald 48, Sarfaraz Ahmed 34*; James Faulkner 3 for 25) beat Lahore Qalandars 140 in 18 overs (Tim David 46, Haris Rauf 19; Khurram Shahzad 3 for 14) by 18 runs
Player of the match: Usman Shinwari
(With inputs from PSL media release)
(Image courtesy: PCB)
