PSL 2021 | LHQ VS QTG: Usman Shinwari, Khurram Shahzad keep Quetta Playoffs hopes alive

It took an inspiring performance from the Quetta Gladiators bowlers, Usman Shinwari and Khurram Shahzad in particular to get the team off the losing train and finally get a win, only their second of the season in eight matches. Shinwari, playing his first game in the Abu Dhabi leg of the tournament was particularly impressive at the start, removing key players like Qlanadras skipper Sohail Akhtar and experienced Mohammad Hafeez.

Shahzad was right on the money as well as the Quetta players didn’t let the Qlanadars at any moment feel during the chase that they were in it. Chasing a modest target of 159, the Qlanadars didn’t get off to a good. After having lost their score in the very first over, they lost the other opener, Fakhar Zaman, soon as well. He was played on at a Shahzad delivery in the third over. 

Post Zaman, Hafeez, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ben Dunk, Rashid Khan and Ahmed Daniyal were removed too. Losing six wickets in just 43 runs gave a feeling of Déjà vu for Qalandars all over again from their previous encounter against Multan Sultans where they lost seven wickets for 30 odd runs. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, Shahzad and Hasnain shared the scalps among themselves. 

Tim David with a few lusty blows and some support from James Faulkner tried to restore some semblance into the chase, but a fast length ball by Shinwari, which went away from David got his blade’s outside edge and Quetta skipper Sarfaraz didn’t make a mistake grabbing them. It was Shinwari's third wicket of the day and he could have had four had Sarafaraz not dropped Dunk off him. Nevertheless, the left-arm speedster was adjudged Man of the Match for his performance. 

At 105-8, it seemed all over till tailenders Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf decided to swing the willow hard and fast. In fact, at one point in time, when Haris hit Hasnain for 18 in the 18th over with Qlanadars just needing 19 off 13 remaining balls, Gladaitaors supporters had their hearts in their mouth because they in the past have witnessed their team losing from commanding positions. However, it was one shot too many for Haris as Hasnain uprooted his middle stump on the last ball of his over to finish the proceedings. 

Reacting to the second loss in a similar fashion, Qalandars skipper Sohail was miffed. “Everyone has to take responsibility, especially the batsmen, otherwise this will be the result. There was a bit of spin but the ball was coming on nicely,” he said in the post-match interview. 

Earlier in the evening, Qalandars won the toss and decided to bowl first. Proving the skipper’s decision right, Faulkner removed opener Usman Khan in the second over itself. However, the two overseas imports of Gladiators, Australian Jake Weatherald and South Africa’s Cameron Delport added 58 for the second wicket to stabilise the innings. The two were removed in quick succession by Hafeez and Rashid respectively. It was then that Azam Khan’s cameo of 33 from 18 pushed the men in purple ahead. 

But then the Gladiators lost Azam and Nawaz in the same over and were staring down a similar collapse which has been attached to their identity this season. Skipper Sarfaraz though had some other ideas as he alongside youngster Hassan added 43 runs in the remaining 30 balls to take Gladiators to 158. Sarfaraz remained unbeaten on 34 from 17 balls.

Speaking in the post-match presentation ceremony, the wicketkeeper-batsman was elated with the 18 run victory. He said, “This match and the win was really important for us. I'm really proud of the comeback from the boys and the fielding was good which also helped us a lot in building the pressure.”

For Quetta to qualify for the Playoffs, they must win their remaining two games and hope that among Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans, any two of them lose their remaining matches with handsome margins. They can ensure at least one loss as they face Sultans on Wednesday, June 16 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. 

Lahore though could breathe even now as they just need to win one more game out of their remaining two to ensure their presence in the Playoffs. They next face Karachi in the second game of the doubleheaders day on June 17.