In the 28th match of the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9, Quetta Gladiators secured a thrilling victory against Lahore Qalandars, defeating them by six wickets to qualify for the playoff stage. Chasing a target of 167 runs, Quetta Gladiators achieved the target on the last ball of the innings.
The match-winning moment came when Mohammad Waseem Jr. struck a boundary off the final delivery, not only securing victory for his team but also ensuring their qualification for the next stage of the tournament. Lahore Qalandars, on the other hand, had already been knocked out of the race for the playoffs, having faced defeat in their previous matches.
During the match, Saud Shakeel played a crucial innings of 88 runs for Quetta Gladiators, anchoring the run chase. His innings included four boundaries and five sixes, providing the much-needed impetus to his team’s pursuit of victory. However, he was well supported by Khurram Shehzad, who scored 26 runs, and Jason Roy, who contributed 18 runs to the total.
On the bowling front, Lahore Qalandars managed to score 166 runs for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Shaheen Afridi top-scored for his team with 55 runs, while Abdullah Shafique scored 59 runs but fell short of leading his team to victory. Despite their efforts, Lahore Qalandars failed to defend the target, ultimately succumbing to Quetta Gladiators’ strong batting display.
With this victory, Quetta Gladiators have qualified for the playoffs after a gap of four years in the HBL PSL. The other teams to qualify for the playoff stage include Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Islamabad United, while Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars have been eliminated from the competition.
Looking at the points table, Multan Sultans currently lead the standings with 12 points from nine matches, followed by Islamabad United with 11 points from 10 matches. Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators are tied on 11 points each, occupying the third and fourth positions respectively. Karachi Kings sit in fifth place with eight points from nine matches, while Lahore Qalandars remain at the bottom with just three points from 10 matches.
As the league progresses, each team will play a total of 10 matches in the first stage before moving on to the playoffs.
