Usman, Rossouw powers Gladiators to dominant win over subdued Qalandars

As the race for the expanded eight-team HBL PSL 2026 playoffs heats up, Quetta Gladiators have sprung into contention with a dominant six-wicket win over defending champions Lahore Qalandars at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday night.

Whether it was the batting or the bowling, it was a statement display, built on the back of Usman Tariq and Jahandad Khan’s three wickets each, while Rilee Rossouw took them over the line while chasing 135 in 16.2 overs with a fluent unbeaten 60.

As a result, they are now in fourth position on the points table with six points from seven games.

For the current champions, Qalandars, the worries are far too many, as they sit at the second-last spot on the PSL 2026 points table with just two wins out of six games.

They have failed to show the required rigor so far, with key batters like Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Naeem, Asif Ali, and Abdullah Shafique failing to have a consistent impact.

Quetta’s run-chase

The Gladiators had a troubled start, falling two wickets down with only 11 runs on the board. However, it was then that the duo of Hasan Nawaz and Rilee Rossouw stood up for Quetta, stitching together a 104-run third-wicket partnership in nearly 12 overs..

The flow of runs took off when Hasan smashed two fours in the fourth over, bowled by Daniel Sams, and two sixes and a four in the next two overs to help Quetta finish the powerplay at 47 for the loss of two wickets.

Both batters continued to find boundaries at regular intervals, but it was the 13th over that completely tilted the equation in Quetta’s favour.

On a slow surface where tight, wicket-to-wicket lines from the spinners were expected to dominate, two fours from Rossouw and one from Hasan reduced the required rate for Quetta to under four an over.

In the 14th over, bowled by Sikandar Raza, Hasan had a tame end to his fluent 49-run knock as he got an inside edge and the ball rolled onto his boot before being gathered by the keeper, with the batter having stepped out of his crease and Haseebullah breaking the stumps. During his 32-ball innings, he smashed six fours and two sixes.

The Gladiators then lost another wicket in the next over as Haris Rauf cleaned up Dinesh Chandimal, who could manage just three runs off five deliveries.

Meanwhile, Rilee Rossouw stood his ground firmly and ultimately steered the Gladiators over the line in the 17th over, alongside Bevon Jacobs, who contributed 14 not out from just six deliveries.

The left-handed batter top-scored for the Gladiators with an unbeaten 60 off 49 deliveries, studded with five fours and two sixes.

For the Qalandars, only Raza, Rauf, and captain Shaheen picked up a wicket apiece.

Jahandad, Usman star with the ball

Lahore Qalandars’ choice to bat first turned out to be a poor one, as they were bowled out for just 134 in 19.5 overs with Usman Tariq and Jahandad Khan leading the way for Quetta by claiming three wickets each.

The Qalandars had a troubled start when Jahandad dismissed Mohammad Naeem for just four runs in the second over.

Fakhar Zaman looked promising with a quick 20 off 11 balls but was soon bowled by Alzarri Joseph, who then struck again to remove Charith Asalanka for six, leaving the Qalandars struggling at 36 for the loss of three wickets.

Abdullah Shafique and Haseebullah Khan tried to steady things with a brief 18-run partnership, but Usman Tariq broke through by stumping Shafique.

He followed it up immediately by dismissing captain Shaheen Shah Afridi for a duck to leaving Qalandars in all sorts of trouble at the score of just 60, at the loss of six wickets.

Haseebullah then teamed up with Sikandar Raza to add 24 important runs before Tariq dismissed Raza early in the 17th over.

He also formed another useful 25-run stand with Daniel Sams before being run out. His 33 off 37 balls, including four boundaries.

Usama Mir provided a late boost with a quickfire 22 off just seven balls, hitting three sixes and a four, but was dismissed by Jahandad in the final over.

For Quetta, Jahandad and Usman starred with three wickets apiece, while Alzarri Joseph picked up two and Saqib Khan contributed one.