Lahore, March 29, 2026: Led by skipper Saud Shakeel, the Quetta Gladiators secured their first Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 victory, defeating the Hyderabad Kingsmen by 40 runs at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Batting first, the Gladiators posted a competitive 174-8 in 20 overs. The openers got off to a brisk start, but Riley Meredith struck early, dismissing Saud Shakeel for a run-a-ball 4 and Rilee Rossouw for a duck, reducing the Gladiators to 21-1.
A crucial partnership of 50 runs between Shamyl Hussain and Hassan Nawaz steadied the innings, with Shamyl scoring 54 off 41 balls, including three fours and three sixes, and Hassan reaching his fourth PSL fifty. Late contributions from Tom Curran and the lower order helped the Gladiators surpass the 150-run mark, setting a challenging target for the Kingsmen.
In response, Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled to build momentum, losing early wickets to Alzarri Joseph and Abrar Ahmed. Saim Ayub fell for eight off four deliveries, followed by Maaz Sadaqat’s second-ball duck, leaving Kingsmen reeling at 17-2. Despite efforts by Irfan Khan Niazi and Hassan Khan, the middle-order resistance was dismantled by Abrar and Ahmed Daniyal, as Hyderabad was bowled out for 134-8, falling short by 40 runs.
Abrar Ahmed was the standout with the ball, claiming 3 wickets, while Ahmed Daniyal, Usman Tariq, and skipper Saud Shakeel contributed key strikes. For Hyderabad, Riley Meredith finished with 3/38 in four overs, supported by Maheesh Theekshana and Akif Javed, who took two wickets each.
Gladiators’ all-round performance, combining disciplined bowling and timely batting, proved decisive, earning them their maiden PSL 11 victory in a commanding display of skill and strategy.
