Dubai: Lahore Qalandars’ determination to prove they can win a match without depending on their star batsman Chris Gayle saw them snapping the formidable Quetta Gladiators’ winning run in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Monday night.
It was a jolt for Quetta who were thrashed by 63 runs at the Dubai International stadium.
Reeling under the pressure of two successive defeats, the Lahore players were in for a shock on Monday morning when Gayle, suffering from a stiff back, was declared unfit for the match.
Lahore knew all odds were against them with Quetta riding on the back of three successive victories.
A pep talk by the team management seemed to have boosted the confidence of players with Umar Akmal rising to the challenge, cracking a breezy 93 off 40 balls with eight sixes and six boundaries while Cameron Delport hit 73 off 55 balls with eight fours and three sixes. Lahore posted an impressive 194 for 3 in 20 overs and restricted Quetta to a mere 131 in 16.2 overs.
Umar, who bagged the Man of the Match award, explained how the team overcame the setback of Gayle’s injury. “Gayle is a big name all over the world, but we are not depending on him alone. We are a team and even if he was not there we needed to tell the world that without him we can win. So it’s a good sign that we won and when he comes back it will be more threatening for other teams,” said Umar, who heaped praise on the team management for backing them despite two defeats.
“All credit goes to our team management; they were free and relaxed even after two defeats and they gave us confidence and belief. They told us that we can win and that belief we applied in the match. Our aim is to win the PSL by giving hundred per cent,” added Umar.
The determination to get off to a good start despite losing the toss could be seen in the approach of Lahore openers Ahmad Shehzad and Delport. They put on 62 runs in the first 10 overs before the former hit high to third man Akbar Ur Rehman off Umar Gul for 20. This was followed by a splendid 95-run partnership between Akmal and Delport. Akmal hit a shower of sixes with perfect timing, and was extremely severe on Gul, who gave away 50 runs from his four overs.
Chasing the total, Quetta kept losing wickets at regular intervals with Kevon Cooper clean-bowling Ahmad Shehzad for 15 and also taking the catch of Kevin Pietersen (12) off Dwayne Bravo. Mohammad Nawaz cracked a fighting 42 and put on 74 runs with his skipper Sarfraz Ahmad (31). After this partnership, Zafar Gohar with a four wicket spell, backed by Ajanta Mendis, bowled Quetta out in 16.2 overs.
Brief scores:
Lahore Qalandars 194 for 3 in 20 overs (Azhar Ali 20, Cameron Delport 73, Umar Akmal 93) Quetta Gladiators 131`in 16. 2 overs (Mohammad Nawaz 42, Sarfraz Ahmad 31, Zafar Gohar 4 for 14, Ajantha Mendis 3 for 17) Man of the match: Umar Akmal.
