PSL T20 Quetta vs Lahore: Gladiators win last-ball thriller despite Gayle storm in Dubai

Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi scored a breezy 30 off 12 balls to help Quetta Gladiators chase down a mammoth 201 posted by Lahore Qalandars at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday.

Gladiators made 203-8 in 20 overs after opening batsman Bismillah Khan and Kevin Pietersen set them on course with a power packed performance to reach 107-3 in just 10 overs.

Quetta-born Bismillah scored 55 runs off 30 balls cracking 10 fours and a six in his first PSL outing and was adjuged the Man of the Match.

England international Pietersen scored 34 runs off 21 deliveries hitting six boundaries.

Kumar Sangakkara (37) and Sarfraz Ahmed (21) continued the momentum, before both were dismissed in quick succession by Ehsan Adil.

Adil remained the pick of bowlers of Qalandars with figures 4-0-39-4, but couldn’t finish things off for his team as Zohaib Khan failed to defend 15 runs required from the last over.

Dwayne Bravo also chipped in by claiming three wickets, whereas Kevon Cooper ended up with one.

Earlier, enterprising half-centuries by skipper Azhar Ali (61), Chris Gayle (60) and Umar Akmal (55 not out) saw Qalandars posted a record PSL total.

Azhar and Gayle figured in a 100-run opening stand just 10 overs, while Bravo added 59 for the third wicket with Akmal who smashed four fours and four sixes in his 25-ball knock.

Quetta Gladiators chased down a record PSL total of 201 by Lahore Qalandars to win a last-ball thriller in Dubai on Tuesday.

Former Afghanistan captain Nabi slammed three boundaries, including the winning hit, and two sixes in his 12-ball unbeaten 30 to steer the Gladiators home.

Lahore seemed on course for a win after half centuries by Gayle, Azhar and Akmal had propelled them to 202-3,

Gladiators were equal to the task despite wobbling in the middle when Adil struck crucial blows to finish with four for 37.

Bismillah led the way with a belligerent 55 while Pietersen (34) and Sangakkara (37) kept them in the hunt before Qalandars clawed their way back.

But Nabi broke the hearts of Lahore with his brilliant cameo.

Nabi latches onto a wide ball to slam it to the fence for the winning hit as Zohaib goes for 16 in the last over.

Nabi hammers a boundary and a six off Zohaib to bring Quetta closer to victory.

Quetta need 15 off 6 balls with Zohaib bowling the final over. Glads 187-8, 19 overs.

Umar Akmal takes a good catch as Anwar Ali miscues a lofted shot. Glads 186-5, 18.5 overs.

Anwar Ali c Umar Akmal b Bravo 6 (8b)

Nabi changes the equation dramatically by hammering a six and boundary off Bravo's first two balls.

Adil finishes with four for 39 and Gladiators need 27 off 12 balls. Glads 175-7, 18 overs.

Adil is on fire claiming his fourth wicket as Nawaz swings only to get a thick edge.Glads 172-7, 17.3 overs.

Mohammad Nawaz (3) c Rizwan b Ehsan Adil 0 (2b)

Elliott has to go after Adil's superb low catch is given out after much deliberation. Glads 171-6, 17 overs.

Grant Elliott c Ehsan Adil b Cooper 3 (3b)

Adil has struck two deadly blows in one over as Sangakkara is castled after driving and missing. Glads 163-5, 16 overs.

Kumar Sangakkara b Ehsan Adil 37 (26b 4x4)

Sarfraz skips out and gives himself room to sweep but Adil is on target rattling the exposed stumps. Glads 162-4, 15.3 overs.

Sarfraz Ahmed b Ehsan Adil 21 (17b 2x4)

Sangakkara has picked up a couple of boundaries with  a couple of glorious strokes off Delport. Glads 151-3, 14 overs.

Sangakkara has flicked Cooper for a boundary with sublime placement. Glads 137-3, 13 overs.

Sangakkara sweeps Zohaib for a classic boundary after surviving being caught off a no-ball. Glads 127-3, 12 overs.

Rizwan takes a good catch to send back Bismillah. Glads 101-3, 8.5 overs

Bismillah Khan c Rizwan b Bravo 55 (30b 10x4 1x6)

Pietersen is undone by a slower one from miscuing to Akmal. Glads 101-2, 8.4 overs.

Kevinn Pietersen c Umar Akmal b Bravo 34 (21b 6x4)

Bismillah slams a gorgeous boundary to notch a 24-ball half century in his first PSL match. Glads 94-1, 7 overs.

Bismillah and Pietersen have powered Quetta to the highest PSL Powerplay total of 77-1.

Pieterson hooks a bouncer from Bravo almost with his eyes closed to the square leg fence. Glads 73-1, 5 overs.

Bismillah not to be outdone is also going along merrily slamming four boundaries off Cooper. Glads 64-1, 4 overs.

Pietersen is sizzling hot scoring five boundaries off Adil with his first five scoring strokes. Glads 48-1, 3 overs.

Adil draws first blood by trapping Shehzad leg before. Glads 28-1, 2.1 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Ehsan Adil 4 (2b 1x4)

Gohar goes for 18 as Bismillah slams a six and three boundaries. Glads 28-0, 2 overs.

Shehzad slaps the first he faced from Adil to the midwicket fence as Gladiators begin chasing 202.

Lahore innings

Lahore Qalandars have a made PSL record total of 201-2 thanks to belligerent half centuries from Gayle (60), Azhar (61) and Umar Akmal (55 not out) after being put into bat.

Bravo is castled off a no-ball from Gul.

Akmal is on fire racing to a 23-ball 50 hammering three consecutive sixes off Anwar. Qalan 190-2, 19 overs.

Akmal heaves a slower ball from Anwar over midwicket for a massive six. Qalan 161-2, 17 overs.

Elliott strikes as Azhar whips straight to Anwar. Qalan 142-2, 15.2 overs.

Azhar Ali c Anwar Ali b Elliott 61 (45b 7x4 2x6)

Akmal eases Babar through point for his first boundary before finding the gap on the leg side for another four. Qalan 141-5, 15 overs.

Azhar slams a boundary off Babar to complete a 37-ball fifty. Qalan 122-1, 13 overs.

Gayle smashes his sixth six before holing out a full toss from Babar to Shehzad. Qalan 108-1, 10.4 overs.

Azhar hits the seventh six of the innings hoisting Nabi over midwicket. Qalan 100-0, 10 overs.

Gayle punches Elliott for a boundary past cover to complete his fifty off 28 balls. Qalan 88-0, 9 overs.

Azhar gives Nabi the charge before hoisting him for a six followed by a boundary to backward square leg. Qalan 76-0, 8 overs.

Azhar gets into the act smacking a couple of boundaries off Nabi to bring up the highest Powerplay score in the PSL. Qalan 61-0, 6 overs.

Gayle welcomes Babar by flicking him for a couple of sixes. Qalan 51-0, 5 overs.

CHATTRIYAAN NIKALO, IT'S #GAYLESTORM!

Watch @henrygayle's biggest hits tonight! #LQvQG pic.twitter.com/WcPoZ4Tne3

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 16, 2016

Gayle is on fire swinging Gul into the second tier for a monster six. Qalan 34-0, 4 overs.

Gayle is turning it on standing tall and lofting Anwar Ali over long-off for the first maximum followed by another similar hit. Qalan 26-0, 3 overs.

Gayle eases another full toss from Gul through the covers for a boundary. Glad 13-0, 2 overs.

Gayle opens his account by easing a full toss from Anwar Ali first ball through the covers for a boundary. Qalan 6-0, 1 over.

Quetta Gladiators have won the toss and put Lahore Qalandars into bat in Match 18 of PSL at Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday.

.@TeamQuetta won the toss and chose to field first! @lahoreqalandars need a win! Lineups #LQvQG pic.twitter.com/CPwZsMMtZ8

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 16, 2016

Lahore Qalandars: Abdul Razzaq, Adnan Rasool, Azhar Ali, DJ Bravo, KK Cooper, CS Delport, Ehsan Adil, CH Gayle, Hammad Azam, BAW Mendis, Mohammad Rizwan, Naved Yasin, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Zohaib Khan

Quetta Gladiators: Ahmed Shehzad, Aizaz Cheema, Akbar-ur-Rehman, Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Bilal Asif, Bismillah Khan, E Chigumbura, GD Elliott, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Nawaz (3), KP Pietersen, Rameez Raja (2), Saad Nasim, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, LJ Wright, Zulfiqar Babar

 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.