PSL II: Gladiators clinch thriller by 8 runs against Qalandars

DUBAI: Quetta Gladiators defeated Lahore Qalandars by eight runs to clinch a low scoring thriller here in the second match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Lahore Qalandars were off to a flying start, as the opening duo of Jason Roy and skipper Brendon McCullum piled up 34 runs in 3 overs, before Roy was dismissed by Zulfiqar Babar.

Qalandar's skipper McCullum was caught by Thisara Parera on 20, adding second wicket to the tally of Zulfiqar Babar.

Umar Akmal was unable to open his account, after he was caught on naught by Parera on Anwar Ali delivery.

Qalandars then became a victim of undue pressure, as they started losing wickets at regular intervals. Wicketkeeper batsman Muhammad Rizwan went cheaply on 5, after he declared lbw on Hassan Khan ball. Fakhr Zaman scored 11, Sohail Tanvir scored 5.

Grant Elliot and Sunil Narine however showed some fight back, but were helpless against the clinical bowling display by Galdiators.

Sunil smashed three sixes for his 15-ball 25 while Grant Elliot made 26 off 30 deliveries.

18.4 OUT Hasan Khan to Yasir Shah

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— #HBLPSL #PSL2017 (@PSL02_Live) February 10, 2017

Earlier, Brendon McCullum's decision to field first reaped fruit after the Quetta Gladiators managed to score a mediocre total of 136 runs in their 20 over losing nine wickets.

The Gladiators were off to a slow start as they put up 54 runs in their first 10 overs, losing wickets at regular intervals.

Rilee Russouw was the mainstay for Gladiators top scoring with 60 runs before giving his wicket away to Mohammad Irfan Jr in the last over.

Opener Ahmad Shahzad, failed to impress yet again as he nicked of a pull shot on Sohail Tanvirs ball sending it straight to Muhammad Rizwan behind the stumps.

Kevin Pietersen was bowled out by Mohammad Irfan Jr at just three runs.

Asad Shafiq then tried to stabilize the Gladiators ship before felling to Sunil Narine on 29. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed soon followed after he was bowled by Narine on 1.

Mohammad Nawaz too failed to add much on the scoreboard after he lost his wicket on 1 run in a successful run-out attempt by Yasir Shah.

Thisara Perera was caught b Bilawal Bhatti on 12 off Yasir Shah.

Sohail Khan later picked up Hassan Khan on 16, while Tymal Maills was lbw by Irfan Jr on naught.

Teams

Lahore Qalandars

Aamer Yamin, Azhar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, CS Delport, GD Elliott, Fakhar Zaman, JEC Franklin, Ghulam Mudassar, CJ Green, BB McCullum*, Mohammad Irfan (2), Mohammad Rizwan, SP Narine, JJ Roy, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Usman Qadir, Yasir Shah

Quetta Gladiators

Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Bismillah Khan, NL McCullum, TS Mills, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Nawaz (3), Noor Wali, NLTC Perera, KP Pietersen, RR Rossouw, Saad Nasim, Sarfraz Ahmed*, Umar Amin, Umar Gul, LJ Wright, Zulfiqar Babar