PSL 2017, Match 2 Review: Quetta Gladiators edge past Lahore Qalandars in a low-scoring thriller

In the 2nd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 2, Quetta Gladiators edged past Lahore Qalandars by 8 runs in a nerve-wracking thriller today. It was a great effort from the Quetta Gladiators’ bowlers as they defended the mediocre total posted by their batsmen. Riding on a well-composed half-century by Rilee Rossouw the Gladiators posted 136 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite getting off to a terrific start, the Lahore Qalandars faltered in the middle overs which eventually cost them the match by 8 runs.

Winning the toss, Lahore Qalandar’s captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and put the oppositions in. The Gladiators were jolted very early in the innings with the dismissal of Ahmed Shehzad and Kevin Pietersen within the first 5 overs of the innings. While left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir removed Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Irfan got rid of the dangerous Kevin Pietersen luring him into a drive.

Rilee Rossouw who joined Asad Shafiq in the middle looked in complete control of proceedings and looked to rebuild the innings after the early dismissals. The boundaries dried out in the middle overs but the duo ensured that they didn’t give away their wickets. After sharing a 29 runs partnership, Asad Shafiq was bamboozled by the Caribbean magician Sunil Narine. He breached Shafiq’s defence with a peach of a delivery which went and disturbed the timbers.

Narine added one more to his kitty in the same over as the spin tweak removed opposition captain Sarfaraz Ahmed in the 5th delivery of the 10th over. Gladiators kept losing wickets at regular intervals as they were reduced to 56/5 in the 12th over. Rilee Rossouw waged a lone battle as the others around him gave away their wickets cheaply. The southpaw smashed Thisara Perera for a four and a six in the 14th over and followed it up with a gigantic six of Mohammad Irfan in the 17th over.

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Hasan Khan also made a quickfire 16 of 11 balls as Quetta Gladiators struggled their way to 136/9 in their allotted 20 overs. While Rossouw scored 47 balls 60, Mohammad Irfan was the wrecker-in-chief for Lahore who finished with impressive figures of 3/26 in 4 overs. Sohail Tanvir and Sunil Narine also chipped in with a couple of wickets each.

Chasing the modest target, Qalandars went off to a rollicking start. Jason Roy smashed Zulfiqar Babar for a six and a four in the very first over to set the ideal tone for the run-chase. The charge continued as Roy added a hat-trick of boundaries in the very next over of the bowling of his England teammate Tymal Mills. After smashing 27 of a mere 14 balls, Roy gave away his wicket to Zulfiqar Babar in the final delivery of the 3rd over but by then he has set his team off to a great start.

Brendon McCullum was joined by Fakhar Zaman in the middle. Now after the dismissal of Roy, it was the turn of McCullum to up the ante. He didn’t disappoint and smashed a four and a six of the 3rd and 4th over respectively. He couldn’t continue his charge and was dismissed in the 4th delivery of the 5th over of Zulfiqar Babar. Despite losing two early wickets, Qalandars looked well in course and made their way to 49/2 at the end of the first 5 overs.

After McCullum’s wicket, it was the turn of Fakhar to head back to the pavilion. Wickets continued to tumble as the Qalandars only managed 68/5 in their first 10 overs. Kiwis batsman Grant Elliot chipped in with a useful 26 but was unable to unleash the big shots. Sunil Narine played a brilliant hand towards the end of the innings but it wasn’t enough to take his team over the finishing line. Narine smashed 26 of 15 deliveries towards the dying moments of the match, an innings constructed with 3 hits over the fence.

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The Lahore Qalandars eventually fell 8 runs short of the victory target. Jason Roy was the top scorer with a breezy 27 while Hasan Khan was the pick of the Gladiators’ bowlers who finished with figures of 2/10. Zulfiqar Babar and Hasan Khan also chipped in with a couple of wickets each.

Brief Scores

Quetta Gladiators 136/9 in 20 overs (Rilee Rossouw 60, Mohammad Irfan 3/26)

Lahore Qalandars 128 all-out in 18.4 overs (Jason Roy 27, Hasan Khan 2/10)

Quetta Gladiators won by 8 runs