In a nail-biting encounter on Sunday, March 10, at the National Stadium, Karachi, Quetta Gladiators clinched a thrilling victory over Lahore Qalandars in Match 28 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024. Chasing a target of 167 runs, Gladiators needed 14 runs off the last over bowled by Shaheen Afridi. The tension escalated when Laurie Evans was dismissed off the first ball, leaving Quetta in a precarious position.
With four runs needed off the final delivery, Saud Shakeel (88* off 55) managed two consecutive boundaries off the first two balls but couldn’t rotate the strike, putting Mohammed Wasim Jr on strike for the last ball. In a dramatic turn of events, Wasim Jr kept his composure and smashed a maximum over deep backward square leg, sealing a dramatic win for Quetta.
The ecstatic scenes that followed saw the Quetta dressing room erupt in celebration, with legendary Viv Richards joining the jubilant players on the field to savor the victory. Quetta Gladiators secured their spot in the knockout stages with this win, adding to the euphoria of their team.
Earlier in the day, Lahore Qalandars opted to bat first and posted a competitive total of 166/4 in their 20 overs. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Mirza Baig provided a solid start, but Abrar Ahmed’s breakthroughs halted their momentum. Asad Shafique (59* off 39) and captain Shaheen Afridi (55 off 34) played crucial innings, guiding Lahore to a challenging total.
Despite their valiant effort, Lahore Qalandars faced elimination from the tournament after finishing at the bottom of the table with just one win from ten matches. Quetta Gladiators, led by Rilee Rossouw, still have one league game left against Multan Sultans on March 12, aiming to secure a higher position in the points table with another victory.
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