Lahore Qalandars scored 166/4 in 20 overs, where as Quetta Gladiators scored 169/4 in 20 overs.
So, finally Quetta Gladiators beat Lahore Qalandars by 6 wickets.
Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators
Saud Shakeel’s unbeaten 88 off 65, along with a last-ball six from Mohammad Wasim Jr, clinched a spot for Quetta Gladiators as they secured a thrilling victory against Lahore Qalandars at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Abdullah Shafique and Shaheen Afridi hammered half-centuries to propel Qalandars to a challenging total of 166/4.
Shakeel anchored the chase superbly, forging crucial partnerships and maintaining composure until Wasim Jr delivered the final blow under immense pressure.
With 29 runs needed off the last two overs, Shakeel emerged as the linchpin for Gladiators.
A vital boundary by Laurie Evans was followed by Shakeel’s six off the final ball of the penultimate over, leaving Gladiators requiring 14 off the last over.
Afridi, who had bowled economically in the 18th over, dismissed Evans on the first ball but conceded a single.
Shakeel executed a reverse-scoop flawlessly, followed by two consecutive fours over mid-off.
However, only a single came off the fifth ball, leaving Wasim Jr with the task of scoring a boundary.
Displaying nerves of steel, he cleared the midwicket ropes, concluding the Sunday double-header with two exhilarating last-ball finishes.
The chase commenced cautiously with Shakeel maintaining a strike rate of under 100 in the first six overs.
Despite losing Jason Roy in the sixth over, Gladiators managed 43 runs in the powerplay.
Jahandad Khan swiftly dismissed Rilee Rossouw for 13, but a resilient 70-run partnership between Shakeel and Khawaja Nafay kept Gladiators in contention, albeit with the required rate escalating.
Though faced with moments of quiet pressure, Shakeel responded adeptly, ultimately receiving support from Wasim Jr.
Earlier, after opting to bat, Sahibzada Farhan and Mirza Baig were contained in the powerplay before both succumbed to Abrar Ahmed in the final over of field restrictions.
Shafique anchored the innings while the dismissal of Shai Hope left Qalandars at 70/3 after 10 overs.
Shafique and Afridi then engineered a crucial 91-run stand, with Afridi’s explosive hitting being the highlight, including four maximums and two boundaries.
Afridi’s onslaught included two sixes off Abrar’s over, propelling him to a 28-ball fifty.
Additionally, a six from Shafique off Hosein’s bowling propelled Qalandars past 150 in the 18th over.
However, the last two overs yielded only 12 runs, as Wasim Jr and Mohammad Amir delivered a disciplined performance.
Shafique’s remark at the innings break, “Probably 10-15 runs short here,” proved prescient in the end.
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