Quetta Gladiators were 107-3 in 10 overs courtesy some power hitting by opener Bismillah Khan and Kevin Pietersen as they looked determined in pursuit of 201 posted by Lahore Qalandars at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Quetta-born Bismillah scored 55 runs off 30 balls in an innings which included 10 fours and a six. This was Bismillah’s first outing at the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Bismillah was supported by England international Pietersen, who scored 34 runs off 21 deliveries hitting six fours.
Ahmed Shehzad was the first batsman to depart on four for Gladiators. He was dismissed by Ehsan Adil, whereas wickets of Bismillah and Pietersen were taken by Dwayne Bravo.
Earlier, Skipper Azhar Ali, Chris Gayle and Umar Akmal scored half-centuries as Qalandars posted PSL’s highest total.
Azhar top scored 61, Gayle 60 and Akmal unbeaten 55 as Qalandars made 201 runs for the lost of two wickets in the 18th PSL match.
Qalandars’ innings relied on a solid 100-run opening stand between skipper Azhar and Gayle in just 10 overs, which provided opportunity for the batsmen coming down the order to aim for a big total.
Akmal was joined by Bravo (20) to establish an unbeaten 59-run stand for the third wicket, after Azhar was dismissed in the 16th over.
Gladiators hoped to make a comeback after a claiming a crucial Gayle wicket in the 11th over but couldn’t stop a fiery Akmal from smashing the ball all over the ground as he hit four fours and four sixes in his 25-ball knock.
Grant Elliott and Zulfiqar Babar claimed a wicket each for Gladiators after their skipper Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and decided to field first.
Qalandars, placed at the bottom of the points table, have played a match less than the remaining PSL sides and despite a struggling start, but boosted their chances when they beat a strong Peshawar Zalmi outfit in a close encounter on Saturday.
Lahore Qalandars: Azhar Ali (captain), Chris Gayle, Cameron Delport, Naved Yasin, Umar Akmal, Dwayne Bravo, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Zohaib Khan, Zafar Gohar, Kevon Cooper, Ehsan Adil
Quetta Gladiators: Ahmed Shehzad, Kumar Sangakkara, Kevin Pietersen, Grant Elliott, Mohammad Nabi, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain/wicketkeeper), Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar, Bismillah Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Umar Gul
