‘2 in 2 for the Gladiators’- Fans react as Quetta Gladiators beat Lahore Qalandars by 5 wickets to register their second consecutive win in PSL 2024
Pakistan Super League is currently underway in full swing and the fans are witnessing some highly engrossing matches among equally competitive teams. The 9th edition of the PSL has consisted of some competitive high-scoring affairs so far which is the perfect recipe for a successful T20 tournament.
The fourth match of the 9th edition of the PSL was between Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars and both teams are playing their 2nd match of the season. Both the teams have had contrasting results in their respective first matches. Quetta Gladiators won their first match against Babar Azam led by Peshawar Zalmi by 16 runs. On the other hand, the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars faced an eight-wicket defeat in their first match against Islamabad United in a one-sided affair.
However, it is still early days in the tournament but both teams entered the contest with a zeal to get a win under their name. As has been a norm of the tournament so far, it was again a high-scoring affair where Quetta Gladiators registered a five-wicket win against the Qalandars on their home turf.
It was the Gladiators’ second consecutive of the tournament and with the win, they have gone on to the top of the points table surpassing Multan Sultans. On the contrary, Lahore Qalandors have been having a dismal season so far. The two-time champions lost their second match on the trot.
Nafay took Gladiators home with a fiery half-century
After winning the toss, Qalandars opted to bat first on a flat Lahore track. Despite losing the flamboyant Fakhar Zaman early, Qalandars managed to get to 187 runs at the end of 20 overs on the back of Sahibzada Farhan’s scintillating 62 off 43 balls. Jahandad Khan also played a quick cameo of 45 in just 17 balls to take them to 187 runs. Akeal Hossain was the pick of the bowlers for Gladiators who took 2 wickets for just 17 runs in 4 overs.
Quetta Gladiators made short work of the steep chase of 187 runs by chasing down the target in 19.1 overs with 5 wickets left. Khawaja Nafay who was playing his first PSL match was the pick of the batter for Gladiators who made 60 runs in just 31 balls and took Gladiators in front of Lahore’s pace attack consisting of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Zaman Khan.
Social Media Reaction:
Cricket fans were following the PSL ardently and reacted to the defending champions’ 2nd loss on the trot on social media. Some of the reactions from the fans on X are:
https://twitter.com/akhunzadaa1/status/1759638675116200208
Congratulations to Quetta Gladiators 🙌
— Ayesha (@Ayeeshah512) February 19, 2024
What a player 🔥❤️ pic.twitter.com/xnvXRP71iD
— Babar Azam's World (@Babrazam358) February 19, 2024
What a moment for shaheen afridi😐🔥🔥🔥
— Daud khan (@Daudkhan1100) February 19, 2024
U can see the hunger of runs in his eyes he reminds me of umer Kamal.🔥🔥🔥
— Adnan Zahid (@adnanzahid948) February 19, 2024
Dear Quetta Don't let Khuwaja Nafay Go like Saim and Azam Khan, He is a future Prospect pic.twitter.com/hvSGZoFSth
— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) February 19, 2024