Rishad's 3-wicket haul leads Lahore to 79-run victory over Quetta
The talented Bangladeshi leg-spinner played a crucial role in his team's dominant win, helping them bounce back after a loss in their opening match.
Rishad Hossain made a stunning debut in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), taking 3 wickets for 31 runs to lead Lahore Kalanders to a commanding 79-run victory over Quetta Gladiators. The talented Bangladeshi leg-spinner played a crucial role in his team's dominant win, helping them bounce back after a loss in their opening match.
Batting first at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Lahore Kalanders posted a competitive total of 219/6 in their 20 overs. After losing Mohammad Naim for 17, the team recovered thanks to a solid 67-run contribution from Fakhar Zaman off 39 balls. Sam Billings added an explosive cameo, smashing 50 runs off just 19 balls, pushing Lahore past 200 runs.
Quetta's bowlers, Akil Hossain and Abrar Ahmed, took two wickets each, while Fahim Ashraf and Usman Tariq chipped in with one each. Despite the early loss, Lahore managed to build crucial partnerships that set them up for a big total.
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Chasing 220, Quetta's batting collapsed from the very start. They lost 3 wickets for just 9 runs, with Shahid Afridi dismissing both openers Saud Shakil and Finn Allen, while Asif Afridi removed Hassan Nawaz. Quetta's recovery hopes rested on the shoulders of Kushal Mendis and Riley Russo.
Mendis contributed 28 runs off 14 balls before being dismissed by Haris Rauf. Russo, who had been looking dangerous, made 44 runs off 19 balls, but his wicket fell to Rishad Hossain in the 9th over, bringing the match further in Lahore's favour.
Rishad, who had bowled a tight first spell, returned in the 13th over to deliver a game-changing performance. In his final over, he took two quick wickets, dismissing Mohammad Amir with the first ball and removing Abrar Ahmed off the fourth ball. His performance effectively sealed the game for Lahore as Quetta crumbled, all out for just 140 runs.
This win lifted Lahore back into the top four, with Rishad playing a pivotal role in both the bat and the ball. His three-wicket haul was the standout performance of the match, and his composure under pressure marked a fine debut for the young spinner. Alongside him, Sikandar Raza, Asif Afridi, and Shahid Afridi each took two wickets, while Haris Rauf chipped in with one.
