Watch: As Quetta Gladiators won a thriller to qualify for the PSL 2024 playoffs, their mentor Viv Richards ran onto the field to be part of the celebration.
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Quetta Gladiators needed to beat Lahore Qalandars at the National Stadium in Karachi to guarantee a place in the PSL 2024 playoffs. Abdullah Shafique (59 not out in 39 balls) and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi (55 in 34) helped the Lahore Qalandars reach 166-4 as Abrar Ahmed finished with 2-31.
Saud Shakeel (88 not out in 65 balls) shepherded the Quetta chase, but they needed 14 when Shaheen began the last over. He snared Laurie Evans with the first ball, but after Mohammad Wasim ran a single, Shakeel hit consecutive fours and ran a single, leaving Wasim to score four off the last ball.
Shaheen pitched the last ball on a length. Having shuffled across ever so slightly, Shakeel found himself in perfect position to clobber the ball over deep mid-wicket. He timed it beautifully, and the ball soared over the fence.
Quetta mentor Viv Richards, who had turned 72 on March 7, rushed out onto the field to become part of the celebration. With 11 points, his team has now qualified for the playoffs with a match in hand, along with Multan Sultans, Islamabad United, and Peshawar Zalmi. Lahore had been eliminated some time ago; Karachi Kings are now out of the race as well.
Watch Quetta mentor Viv Richards run onto the field in PSL playoff qualification celebration:
What did we just witness⁉️
Gladiator Wasim Jnr taking Quetta to the playoffs in style 😱👊#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #QGvLQ pic.twitter.com/X7Yi2DtQeZ
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 10, 2024