LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars edged past Quetta Gladiators by nine runs in PSL 11 thriller at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Opting to bat first, Lahore Qalandars posted a commanding total of 197-6 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks largely to a breathtaking century from opening batter Fakhar Zaman. The left-handed dynamo smashed 103 runs off just 51 deliveries, an innings that featured 11 fours and six towering sixes, striking at an astonishing 201.96.
Defending champions Lahore Qalandars win back-to-back games as Quetta Gladiators fall nine runs short.#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #LQvQG pic.twitter.com/Oxp96vdos9
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 21, 2026
Lahore’s innings had begun shakily, with pacer Khalil Ahmed removing Mohammad Farooq for just four runs in the second over. However, Fakhar Zaman joined forces with Abdullah Shafique to steady the ship with a 57-run partnership. Abrar Ahmed broke the stand by dismissing Shafique for 14, leaving Lahore at 64-2.
Undeterred, Fakhar found an able ally in Charith Asalanka, and the duo carved out a match-defining 96-run partnership. Asalanka contributed a steady 31 off 24 balls before falling to Brett Hampton. Fakhar brought up his third PSL century in style but was dismissed soon after for 103, caught off Usman Tariq’s bowling. Late cameos from Daniel Sams (18 not out) and Shaheen Afridi (8) pushed Lahore to 197-6.
In reply, Quetta Gladiators mounted a spirited chase but ultimately fell nine runs short, finishing at 188-7. Opener Shamyl Hussain led the charge with a rapid 53 off 31 balls, while captain Rilee Rossouw played a blinder, hammering 62 off just 29 deliveries, including five fours and five sixes.
A Game-Changing Double Blow to the Gladiators! 🚨#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #LQvQG pic.twitter.com/KXyoN1XmwD
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 21, 2026
Quetta’s chase gained momentum through a 49-run opening stand between Shamyl Hussain and Saud Shakeel (17). After Shakeel fell to Sikandar Raza, Shamyl and Rossouw kept the scoreboard ticking. However, Haris Rauf triggered a middle-order collapse by removing Hasan Nawaz for a golden duck, and Usama Mir sent back Khawaja Nafay for 12.
Despite Rossouw’s fireworks, Lahore’s bowlers held their nerve in the death overs. Haris Rauf finished with impressive figures of 2-28 from his four overs, while Shaheen Afridi (1-35), Usama Mir (1-33), and Sikandar Raza (1-23) provided crucial breakthroughs. Abrar Ahmed provided late lower-order resistance with an unbeaten 24 off 14 balls, but it was not enough to deny Lahore.
𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐇𝐁𝐋 𝐏𝐒𝐋 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐖!
He becomes the second player in the HBL PSL and first overseas player to pass the mark✨👏🏼#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #LQvQG pic.twitter.com/yG6xck0AJR
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 21, 2026
The thrilling nine-run victory lifted Lahore Qalandars to fourth place on the PSL 11 points table, while Quetta Gladiators remained fifth. The match, which witnessed over 385 runs and 16 sixes, will be remembered as one of the season’s most electrifying encounters.
