Right then. That is all that we have from this game. A win here for the Qalandars and they move to first place in the table and the Gladiators have some work that needs to be done if they want to improve going forward. The action in the PSL continues as on Tuesday, 23rd February 2021, we will have the clash between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans at 1900 local (1400 GMT). We hope to have your company for that game. Until then, cheers and goodbye!
Victorious skipper of Lahore Qalandars, Sohail Akhtar says that to keep wickets in hand was on their agenda as the ball was coming nicely onto the bat. Hopes that this continues and is happy that the senior players are contributing nicely. Admits that there were lapses in the field but overall he feels that their bowling was good. Praises Rashid Khan for his bowling and tells that it was a gettable target to chase.
Fakhar Zaman is the Player of the Match! Says that he needed this knock and shares that he luckily got some time off to work on his cricket. States that he tried to play his natural game and was trying not to hit it too hard. Further says that with Hafeez at the other end, there was no pressure on him and he just concentrated on rotating the strike and punished only the bad balls. Signs off by saying that he will try to get starts in every match.
Captain of Quetta Gladiators, Sarfaraz Ahmed comes up for a chat! Expresses his disappointment over the dropped catches and feels that the bowling was also not up to the mark. On his animated reactions on the field, Sarfaraz replies that T20 matches are won by fielding and a good team catches well and saves 15-20 runs in the field. Tells that they are trying to pick the right combination and hopes to get the winning one soon. Mentions that he has been batting well in the nets and hopes to carry this form forward.
Mohammad Hafeez has a quick word. On Gayle having a look at his bat after the match, Hafeez smiles and says that he doesn't have big muscles like the Universe Boss so he told the West Indian that he should at least have a better bat. Adds that he is working hard on timing his shots rather than powering them. Regarding him and Gayle still going strong, Hafeez replies that Gayle is special but he has to work hard to get these things. Is happy that things are working well for him at the moment.
Earlier in the day, we had a Gaylestorm, of not the biggest magnitude, and along with Sarfaraz, both of them stitched a 100-run stand, after they lost 2 quick wickets early on. Nawaz came on later and helped them post 178 on the board. But all their exploits did not matter as this total was comfortably chased down by the Qalandars and they move to the top of the points table as well.
The bowling display by the Gladiators was a sorry show. They never looked like they were in control of the game and were fought out of the game by the batters of Lahore. They took their time to get the first wicket and after they scalped the first one, they were not able to capitalize. It also did not help their cause that there were a couple of dropped catches and their quality, in general, out on the field was poor. Hafeez was dropped when he was on 24 by Saim Ayub and if that had been taken, maybe a different game could have panned out. Some work to be done by Quetta after this show.
A strong platform was required from the Qalandars, if they were to chase this down and they were provided just that by their openers. Zaman and skipper, Sohail Akhtar stitched a 64-run stand before the captain was foxed by Zahid. Then came the stand which won Lahore the game. Zaman and Hafeez combined forces and added more than 100 runs for the second wicket and the bowlers seemed to have no answers. They kept packing the boundaries and in the end, won this game easily by 9 wickets and 10 balls to spare.
A wonderful run chase by the Qalandars, mainly due to the brilliant batting display by Fakhar Zaman and the Professor, Mohammad Hafeez. The Gladiators' skipper, Sarfaraz Ahmed was not the happiest man out on the field and it looks like he is not going to have a good night's sleep, after this performance.
LAHORE QALANDARS
179/1 (18.2)
82* (52)
73* (33)
1/28 (3)
0/31 (3)
Over 19
0
4
Mohammad Hafeez*
73 (33)
Fakhar Zaman
82 (52)
Mohammad Hasnain
0/31 (3.2)
LAH
179/1
4
18.2
Mohammad Hasnain to Mohammad Hafeez ,FOUR! LAHORE QALANDARS WIN BY 9 WICKETS! Hasnain over-pitches outside off, Hafeez latches onto it and thwacks it through covers for a boundary. Sarfaraz has a dejected look on his face as the players get together to shake hands.
0
18.1
Mohammad Hasnain to Mohammad Hafeez ,Dot ball! Fuller in length and around off, Hafeez drives it down the ground but straight to mid off.
Over 18
1
4
2
4
6
1
Mohammad Hafeez*
69 (31)
Fakhar Zaman
82 (52)
Usman Shinwari
0/47 (4)
LAH
175/1
1
17.6
Usman Shinwari to Mohammad Hafeez ,Change up again from Shinwari, bowls it short and outside off, slower in pace, Hafeez pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.
6
17.5
Usman Shinwari to Mohammad Hafeez ,SIX! Into the crowd! A length ball is angled into the batsman, Hafeez clears his front leg and hoists it over mid-wicket for a maximum. 5 needed more.
4
17.4
Usman Shinwari to Mohammad Hafeez ,FOUR! It's raining boundaries for Hafeez! Full and in the slot around off, Hafeez clears his front leg and smashes it straight down the ground for a boundary.
2
17.3
Usman Shinwari to Mohammad Hafeez ,Slower delivery, short and on off, Hafeez delays his pull and sends it to deep mid-wicket. A diving effort in the deep and a couple taken.
4
17.2
Usman Shinwari to Mohammad Hafeez ,FOUR! Nailed it! Short in length and around off, Hafeez hangs on the back foot and hammers his pull shot to the wide long on fence. 17 needed more off 16 balls.
1
17.1
Usman Shinwari to Fakhar Zaman ,Back of a length ball on off, slower in pace, Fakhar swings his bat early and ends up dragging it off the inside half to deep square leg for one.