PSL 2025, Match 4 Review: Fakhar Zaman, Sam Billings excel as Lahore Qalandars thrash Quetta Gladiators in Rawalpindi

Lahore Qalandars – PSL 2025, Match 4 Review: Fakhar Zaman, Sam Billings excel as Lahore Qalandars thrash Quetta Gladiators in Rawalpindi (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)

Lahore Qalandars (LAH) eased past Quetta Gladiators (QUE) in match No. 4 of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, April 13.

Quetta captain Saud Shakeel won the toss and opted to field first in the high-voltage clash. Abrar Ahmed gave his team an early breakthrough as he dismissed Mohammad Naeem in the third over. However, Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique took the opposition bowlers to the cleaners, forging a 56-run stand from just 32 balls. After the latter was dismissed for a 21-ball 37, Zaman found another able ally in Daryl Mitchell.

The experienced duo added 81 runs off just 43 balls as Lahore looked set to post a formidable total. But, the Gladiators bounced back strongly by taking three wickets in quick succession. However, Sam Billings smashed a remarkable half-century off just 19 balls to take Lahore to 219/6 in their 20 overs. 49 runs came off the last 16 balls as Shaheen Afridi and Co. went into the dressing room with all the momentum on their side. Zaman top-scored with a 39-ball 67 for the Qalandars.

In the second innings, Shaheen sent openers Shakeel and Finn Allen packing. The 21-year-old Asif Afridi also chipped in with the wicket of Hasan Nawaz as the Gladiators were reeling at 9/3 inside the third over. Rilee Rossouw formed a couple of fighting partnerships with Kusal Mendis and Shoaib Malik. However, there was too much work to be done. Mendis threw away a good start as he made a 14-ball 28. Rossouw blazed his way to 44 off 19 balls, but his team needed him to bat for a much longer period.

Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq added a 26-run partnership off 22 balls in the end to delay the inevitable. The Gladiators were bowled out for 140 in 16.2 overs. Rishad Hossain finished with a three-for, while Shaheen, Asif, and Sikandar Raza bagged two wickets apiece. Haris Rauf proved to be expensive, but he took the crucial wicket of Mendis.

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