By our correspondent
LAHORE: A late blitz from Kusal Perera (62 not out) and Sikandar Raza (22 not out) gifted Lahore Qalandars their third title in four years when they conquered Quetta Gladiators by six wickets in the thrilling final of the HBL PSL X at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Sunday night.
Set to score 202 Qalandars needed 31 runs from the final two overs. Mohammad Amir conceded 18 runs in the penultimate over when he was hammered by Perera for a six and a four and Qalandars now required 13 from the final over of Faheem Ashraf and eight from the final three deliveries. However, Sikandar Raza, who had joined the side just before the start of the final by returning after fulfilling national duty, hit Faheem for a six and four off the next two balls to make his side home in a fantastic way.
Perera, who completed his second successive fifty off 28 balls, smashed four sixes and five fours in his superb 31-ball 62 not out.
Raza hammered two sixes and two fours in his seven-ball 22 not out.
The duo shared 59 runs off just 19 balls for the fifth wicket unbroken partnership.
Lahore Qalandars had also won titles in 2022 and 2023. This was the third time that Gladiators lost in the final. They had also lost the finals of the 2016 and 2017 editions of the country’s marquee event. Gladiators have to their credit one title which they had won in 2019.
Set to chase a tricky 202 Lahore Qalandars had a solid start of 39 from 20 balls.
It was leggie Abrar Ahmed who gave a breakthrough to Gladiators in his first over when he had Fakhar Zaman, trapped lbw after the left-hander went for a slog sweep bit missed it completely and it hit him right on front.
Fakhar struck two fours in his ten-ball 11.
Mohammad Naeem and Abdullah Shafique then tried to further build the innings with Naeem going for big hits before he was dislodged by Faheem Ashraf in the ninth over, held at deep square-leg by Avishka Fernando for a 27-ball 46.
Naeem, who was dropped by Usman Tariq off the bowling of Mohammad Amir on 20, smashed six towering sixes and one four in his another fine knock.
Kusal Perera then joined Abdullah Shafique and it was expected that duo would take their team to a safe position but it did not happen as in the 13th over Usman Tariq got rid of Abdullah. Abdullah went for a big shot but only top-edged with Abrar taking an easy catch at the first slip position. Abdullah struck one six and four fours in his 28-ball 41 and Qalandars were 115-3.
Perera and Bhanuka Rajapaksa batted under pressure and stitched slow 30 runs off 25 balls. Mohammad Amir removed Rajapaksa to add to Qalandars miseries after the Sri Lankan made 14 off 16 balls which featured one six and one four.
However Perera and Sikandar Raza then did a fantastic job to make their team home with just one ball to spare.
Mohammad Amir (1-41), Faheem Ashraf (1-49 in 3.5 overs), Abrar (1-47 in 4 overs) and Usman Tariq (1-38 in 4) were among the wickets.
Earlier Usman Tariq was taken away off the pitch in the 16th over of the innings after pulling his muscles.
Earlier Hasan Nawaz once again did a terrific job when he chipped in with a highly responsible 76 while Faheem Ashraf scored a rapid eight-ball 28 to guide Quetta Gladiators to a fighting total of 201-9.
Hasan went out to bat when Gladiators were 21-2 in the fourth over. However he stayed like a rock and mixed defense and attack quite well to take his team to a good total in the end.
Hasan, who brought in his third fifty of the season off 21 balls, smashed four sixes and eight fours in his fantastic 43-ball knock.
Hasan, who was removed by Shaheen Afridi, held in the deep by Sikandar Raza, was involved in a handful of crucial stands.
He added 37 runs off 19 balls for the third wicket association with Rilee Rossouw who was sent back by Zimbabwe’s spinner Sikandar Raza off his first ball of his spell for a brisk 11-ball 22.
Rilee hammered one six and four fours in his brief but productive knock.
Hasan then shared another 67 off 39 deliveries for the fourth wicket partnership with Avishka Fernando who belted a rapid 22-ball 29, hammering five fours.
Hasan then put on 46 runs for the fifth wicket association with Dinesh Chandimal who scored a brisk 13-ball 22 which featured two huge sixes. It was Shaheen Afridi who took the wickets of Chandimal and Hasan Nawaz in the same over to leave Gladiators at 172-6 in the 18th over.
Hasan also smacked Bangladeshi spinner Rishad Hossain for a glorious six and two fours in the tenth over of the innings which yielded 16 runs.
Faheem Ashraf then used long handle in the end scoring a fiery eight-ball 28 hammering three sixes and two fours.
He hit Salman Mirza for three sixes and a four in the final over which yielded 23 runs.
Earlier after opting to bat first Gladiators lost their skipper Saud Shakeel (4) when he was caught by keeper Kusal Perera off Shaheen Afridi in the third over. It was a delivery that pitched outside the leg stump Saud went for a glance and was given out by the umpire following a confident appeal. Saud was not happy with the decision and he not only hit with his boot the flake on the boundary line but also threw his helmet at his dugout. The game was being played without DRS.
And left-arm pacer Salman Mirza then got rid of Finn Allen (12) to put pressure on Gladiators. Allen struck two fours in his 11-ball knock.
Shaheen Afridi was the star performer as he bowled extremely well and finished with 3-24 in his quota of four overs.
Salman Mirza got 2-51 in four while Haris Rauf captured 2-41 in four overs.
Haris was also hammered by Rilee Rossouw for a six and four and was also smacked by Hasan Nawaz for a four in the fifth over which produced 16 runs.
Spinner Sikandar Raza who joined the team just before the start of the show, got 1-43 in four overs.
Meanwhile Lahore Qalandars also took a concussion substitute for Asif Ali, who collided with Mohammad Naeem during the 12th over of the innings on boundary line while fielding. Mohammad Akhlaq replaced Asif for the remainder of the innings.
