PSL 2026: Usman, Jahandad blow away Lahore as Quetta bounce back with 6-wicket win

Quetta Gladiators registered a crucial victory in the Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026), beating Lahore Qalandars by six wickets on Friday, April 17, at National Stadium, Karachi. Lahore were bundled out for 134 in 19.5 overs, with Jahandad Khan and Usman Tariq running through their batting line-up.

In reply, Quetta comfortably chased down the target in 16.2 overs with Rilee Rossouw scoring a magnificent half-century. Earlier, Fakhar Zaman (20 off 11) came out all guns blazing for Lahore, before being cleaned up by Alzarri Joseph (2/41). His opening partner, Mohammad Naeem (4 off 3), also lost his stumps against Jahandad Khan (3/35).

Charith Asalanka (6 off 6) and Mohammad Farooq (2 off 8) also fell cheaply, leaving Lahore on 42/4 after 6.3 overs. Wickets continued to tumble as no batter could bail Lahore out of misery, and they were eventually skittled for 134 after Usama Mir (22 off 7) played some shots in the death overs.

In the second innings, the hopes were high in Lahore’s camp after Shamyl Hussain (0 off 3) and Quetta captain Saud Shakeel (1 off 3) departed cheaply. However, a massive 104-run stand off 69 balls between Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz (49 off 32) brought Quetta into the driver’s seat. 

Rossouw brought up his half-century off 42 balls, but Nawaz missed out on his milestone, getting stumped against Sikandar Raza. In the end, Bevon Jacobs (14* off 6) gave the finishing touch to the innings and helped his team get over the line. 

Following their victory, Quetta rose to fourth spot on the points table with six points from seven matches, while Lahore continued to reel at the seventh spot (second last) with four points to their name. 

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Usman Tariq was adjudged Player of the Match for his match-winning performance of 3/18 in four overs. He dismissed Abdullah Shafique (17 off 22), Shaheen Afridi (0 off 2) and Sikandar Raza (15 off 17) to break the back of Lahore's batting in the middle overs and stemmed the run flow.

Turning Point

Usman Tariq and Jahandad Khan (3/35) ran through Lahore's batting line-up, scalping three wickets each. It was the collective performance from the duo that helped Quetta get a stranglehold on Lahore's batting and not allow them to get away with the run rate. Their performance was the turning point of the match. 

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Saud Shakeel (Quetta Gladiators)

Have been trying to put on a performance like this. It lifts the whole dressing room. Have been saying that we haven't been able to give the platform to the spinners from where they can attack. It's a different ball game when batters are trying to attack them. When that happens, wickets will come. Today they got that platform and showed that quality. Everyone is chipping in and contributing (with the bat). Rossouw coming back to form was good, and even the way Jacobs struck those two sixes at the end bodes well.

Losing Captain, Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars):

Definitely we are struggling (with the bat). We're still in the tournament but we're struggling. With the back to back games, there's an opportunity for batters to step up. Need to believe in ourselves (talking about his batters). One guy can't win it, the team has to perform. Need to win the last four matches. Bowlers also have the responsibility to bowl well in the middle overs.