Lahore Qalandars was the team which was losing each and every match of current first season of PSL (Pakistan Super League). On other hand the Quetta Gladiators were winning each game of the tournament yet. They even won from all teams which defeated Lahore Qalandars previously in this current season. Plus victory was not only shocking, it was huge. Lahore Qalandars set a target of 195 and Quetta Gladiators were not able to achieve it. The Gladiators got out in just 16.2 overs by scoring just 131 runs.
Main ingredients of this victory were the innings of Umar Akmal and than Cameron Delport. Cameron Delport was one of the openers with Azhar Ali on other end. While Azhar Ali got out by scoring just 20 runs on 21 balls, Cameron Delport stood strong and scored supporting innings of 73 runs on 55 balls. However, on other side of wicket while coming in at number three Umar Akmal unleashed his all batting skill today. He player beautiful super fast innings of 93 runs on just 40 balls with the help of six FOURs and eight SIXES. Umar Akmal played with the exceptional strike rate of 232.5, which is simply awesome to watch.
For the bowlers of Quetta Gladiators there was nothing much in the game. Three of them who are Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar and Umar Gul manage to take one wicket each. Most expensive bowler was Umar Gul who gave 50 runs in four overs he bowled, with the average of 12.5 runs per over.
Coming to the batting of Quetta Gladiators, it was total disaster today. Best scorer was Muhammad Nawaz who did 42 on 32 balls, than trailing him was Sarfaraz the captain, who did just 31 runs and those on 19 balls. All team was out in just 16.2 over with seven players scoring under 10 and two of others scoring under 20 runs.
Like their batting the bowling of Lahore Qalandars was also superb. Zafar Gohar took four wickets, Ajantha Mendis was able to take three, with three other bowlers taking one wicket each. Best stats were of Zafar Gohar who in 3.2 over given just 14 runs and took four wickets. Worst were of Hamad Azam, who gave 25 runs and took no wicket at all in four overs, but still this is still acceptable in game of Twenty20 and specially when opposition is chasing total of 195.
This was again a good cricketing day, specially very good for PSL. An upset which was lesson for Quetta Gladiators and other teams, that winning few games do not mean, you will be the winner through out. Plus it was very nice the way Lahore Qalandars took themselves up and together after losing few previous games. This match also proved that no one should think of couple of teams as favorites, any team can take the trophy with some hard work.