Twenty20 internationals Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez smashed half-centuries as Lahore Qalandars thumped Quetta Gladiators by nine wickets in the Pakistan Super League on Monday.
Left-handed opener Fakhar made 82 off 52 balls and 41-year-old Hafeez hit a blistering 73 off just 33 balls in Lahore’s strong run-chase of 179-1 with 10 balls to spare.
Both batsmen were dropped but raised a 115-run, match-winning stand off only 58 balls.
Quetta Gladiators' Chris Gayle, left, is bowled out by Lahore Qalandars' Rashid Khan while teammate Ben Dunk watches during a Pakistan Super League T20 cricket match between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium, in Karachi, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoFareed Khan)
Hafeez smashed six sixes and five fours that included the winning boundary against Mohammad Hasnain through the covers to hand Quetta its second successive loss in the six-team event.
“The ball was coming nicely onto the bat and we always knew we will chase it down,” Lahore captain Sohail Akhtar said. “Hafeez and Fakhar paced the run chase very well and it was an outstanding performance.”
Earlier, after being put into bat, Lahore let veteran Chris Gayle (68) off the hook twice before he anchored Quetta to 178-6.
Lahore Qalandars' Haris Rauf, second left, celebrates with teammates after after taking the wicket of Quetta Gladiators' Tom Banton during a Pakistan Super League T20 cricket match between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium, in Karachi, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoFareed Khan)
Gayle, dropped in the 20s by Agha Salman at deep mid-wicket, hit five fours and five sixes before Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan clean bowled him in the 15th over.
Gayle shared 101-run stand with captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who returned to some batting form with 40 off 31 balls before getting a top edge off a mistimed pull against fast bowler Haris Rauf, who took 3-38.
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Lahore Qalandars' Shaheen Afridi, front, celebrates after taking the wicket of Quetta Gladiators' Saim Ayub, back, during a Pakistan Super League T20 cricket match between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium, in Karachi, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoFareed Khan)
Quetta Gladiators' Sarfraz Ahmed plays a shot during a Pakistan Super League T20 cricket match between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium, in Karachi, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. (AP PhotoFareed Khan)