‘Yeh hai tumhare defending champions’ – Fans react as Quetta Gladiators hand Lahore Qalandars their second defeat of PSL 2024

In the fourth game of the ongoing Pakistan Super League 2024 (PSL), former champions Quetta Gladiators and current holders, Lahore Qalandars locked horns. The defending champions were coming off a loss against the two-time winner, Islamabad United. On the other hand, the 2019 winners started the season with a win against the 2017 winner, Peshawar Zalmi. Meanwhile, in this game, the home team, Lahore won the toss and batted first.

They had a poor start as Fakhar Zaman (6) was caught at mid-on off Akeal Hosein in the third over. Sahibzada Farhan, carrying from a blistering fifty and alongside Rassie van der Dussen (15), put together 53 runs for the second wicket. After Farhan (62 off 43 balls) got out in the 13th over, Jahandad Khan hit a cameo off 45 off 17 balls including three fours and four sixes.

They helped the team reach 187/7 with Sikandar Raza and skipper Shaheen Afridi playing cameos too. For the Purple Brigade, Hosein and Mohammad Hasnain took two wickets each. On the other hand, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Wasim, and Abrar Ahmed took one each.

Quetta Gladiators hands Lahore Qalandars their second defeat of the season

The 2019 winners had a great start as Saud Shakeel and Jason Roy put together 69 runs in just 6.5 overs. The former scored 40 off 23 balls including seven fours and a six. On the other hand, Roy scored 24 off 19 balls. Khawaja Nafay scored an unbeaten 60 off 31 balls while others played cameos. Thanks to them, the team ended up winning the game by five wickets and as many balls left.

The Qalandars’ bowlers had a poor day although the likes of Afridi, Haris, Zaman Khan, Salman Fayyaz, and Raza took a wicket each. For the first in the last few seasons, the defending champions have lost their first two games of the season.

This is how Twitter reacted