Lahore Qalandars defeated Victoria by 10 runs in a thrilling encounter at the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) 2024 in Providence.
The match was a tense battle from start to finish, with a standout performance from Qalandars’ Tabraiz Shamsi, whose brilliant passing made the difference between the two teams.
Victoria won the toss and captain Corey Anderson elected to bowl first. Mirza Baig anchored the Qalandars’ innings, scoring 39 off 36 balls to lay a solid foundation for his team.
Despite Anderson’s best efforts, rotating seven bowlers, the Qalandars’ batting never really gained momentum. Mohammad Faizan was out for 25 off 21 balls while Tom Abell and Mohammad Akhlaq contributed 17 and 26 runs respectively.
Captain Carlos Brathwaite’s brief stay in the box ended in a golden duck when Jackson Smith removed him. Smith was in excellent form, taking three wickets, while his partner, Dominic Drakes, also claimed three scalps. Drakes was particularly economical, keeping the pressure on the opposition with 14 balls in his four overs.
Victoria needed 140 runs to win after dismissing the Qalandars for 139. The Australian team got off to a strong start, with a confident opening partnership of 67 between Blake Macdonald and Joe Clarke. However, regular wickets began to fall and the pressure mounted.
Tabraiz Shamsi’s exceptional spell was the decisive moment of the match as he took three wickets for just 11 runs in his four overs.
His remarkable performance included an astonishing 16 dot balls without a single boundary conceded. This brilliant display of control and precision earned him the well-deserved Man of the Match award.
Karima Gore fought valiantly for Victoria, but when he was dismissed for 25 off 22 balls in the 19th over, he left his team with just two wickets remaining.
With 12 runs remaining, Faheem Ashraf sealed the victory for Qalandars by dismissing Jackson Smith on his third delivery.
The victory tightens the standings in the GSL, with Lahore Qalandars, Victoria and Guyana Amazon Warriors all on four points, having won two and lost one match each. As the tournament progresses, the next round of matches will be crucial in determining who advances to the final.
