Quetta Gladiators edge Lahore Qalandars in a last-ball thriller to reach PSL 9 Playoffs

KARACHI (Monitoring Desk): Mohammad Wasim Jr smashed a last-ball six to muscle Quetta Gladiators into the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 playoffs with a tense six-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars here on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, Lahore Qalandars set a stiff target for Quetta Gladiators in their all-important PSL 9 fixture.

The defending champions had a cautious start to their innings as in-form opener Sahibzada Farhan knitted a 38-run stand with Tahir Baig before both fell victim to Abrar Ahmed in the sixth over.

Farhan scored 25 off 22 deliveries, hitting four boundaries while Baig made a scratchy 12 off 13.

Abdullah Shafique then put on a one-sided partnership with Shai Hope, who managed a mere five off seven deliveries before walking back in the 10th over with just 69 runs on the board.

Promoted himself to bat up the order, Shaheen Shah Afridi partnered strongly with Abdullah Shafique and put Lahore Qalandars in control.

The duo added a monumental partnership for the fourth wicket with both scoring half-centuries in the process.

Their partnership yielded 91 runs off 57 deliveries before Mohammad Amir struck in the final over to get rid of Shaheen.

Qalandars’ skipper smashed two boundaries and four sixes on his way to a 34-ball 55.

Meanwhile, Shafique carried his bat all the way through and top-scored for the Qalandars with an unbeaten 59. His 39-ball knock featured three boundaries and two sixes.

For the Gladiators, Abrar Ahmed bagged two wickets while Amir and Mohammad Wasim Jr made one scalp each.

It is worth mentioning here that the two-time champions and holders Lahore Qalandars are already out of the playoffs race while Quetta Gladiators need one victory out of their remaining two fixtures to seal their spot in the final four.

The Gladiators are fourth in the PSL 9 standings with nine points in eight matches while the Qalandars are at the bottom with three points in nine matches.