Qalandars slump to sixth PSL defeat

Defending champions Lahore Qalandars saw their playoff hopes fade further after slumping to a six-wicket defeat against Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League on Friday. Chasing a modest 135 on a slow, two-paced surface at National Bank Stadium, Quetta rode on a composed unbeaten 60 from Rilee Rossouw and a fluent 49 by Hasan Nawaz to reach their target comfortably. The pair shared a decisive 104-run stand for the third wicket after Quetta stumbled early in the chase. Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in the opening over, removing Shamyl Hussain for a duck as the batter miscued a full toss to mid-on. Quetta skipper Saud Shakeel was run out for one soon after following a mix-up with Rossouw, leaving the side briefly in trouble. Rossouw and Hasan then rebuilt steadily before accelerating with authority. Hasan, in particular, looked assured, using his wrists effectively to find gaps and counter the Lahore attack. He struck six boundaries and two sixes in his 32-ball knock, including a well-timed flick over long-on and a deft late cut off Haris Rauf that raced to the boundary. Rossouw complemented him with controlled aggression, striking five fours and two sixes in his 49-ball innings. He brought up his half-century with a crisp drive through the covers and kept the scoreboard ticking with calculated stroke play. The required rate remained under control throughout the middle overs as Quetta reached 75 for two at the halfway stage. Hasan eventually fell for 49 in the 13th over after an inside edge onto his boot left him stranded out of his crease, with wicketkeeper Haseebullah Khan completing the stumping. Dinesh Chandimal departed cheaply, but Quetta needed only 13 runs from 30 balls at that stage. Bevon Jacobs applied the finishing touches with two clean hits, including a six over cover, to seal victory with ease. Earlier, Lahore’s innings had faltered after a brisk start. Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem provided early momentum, but the innings unraveled quickly after Naeem was bowled for four by Jahandad Khan. Alzarri Joseph then struck key blows, dismissing Fakhar for 20 with a sharp delivery that breached his defence before removing Charith Asalanka, who top-edged a pull. Saqib Khan added to Lahore’s woes by trapping Mohammad Farooq lbw, leaving the Qalandars struggling at 42 for four at the end of the powerplay. A brief recovery attempt by Abdullah Shafique ended when he was stumped for 17 after charging down the pitch against Usman Tariq, who proved the standout bowler for Quetta. Usman claimed three wickets for 18 runs, exploiting the sluggish surface with clever variations. He also removed Shaheen for a duck and later bowled Sikandar Raza as Lahore’s middle order crumbled. Haseebullah Khan top-scored with 33, while Daniel Sams chipped in, but neither could provide the impetus needed to post a competitive total. A late cameo from Usama Mir, who smashed 22 off just seven balls with three sixes, lifted Lahore to 134 before they were bowled out in 19.5 overs. Jahandad returned to pick up late wickets, including two in successive deliveries, as Lahore’s innings ended in another collapse. It marked the third time in recent matches in Karachi that Qalandars failed to post a significant total, having previously managed scores of 100 and 97. The defeat leaves Lahore seventh in the eight-team standings with six losses, their campaign increasingly under pressure as the tournament progresses. Despite Afridi’s early breakthrough, Lahore struggled to maintain control with the ball, highlighting ongoing issues with both batting depth and bowling support. Quetta, by contrast, showed composure in the chase and moved a step closer to the playoffs with a disciplined all-round performance.