KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi’s captain – Shoaib Malik led from the front to guide his side to a thrilling victory over Quetta Gladiators in the second match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), here on Friday.

Set to chase 191, Zalmi’s captain – Shoaib’s magnificent fourth-wicket partnership with Hussain Talat anchored the run-chase for the side. The pair added an 81-runs partnership and put their side onto the driving seat despite an average start.

Shoaib remained unbeaten with his magnificent 48 off 32 deliveries, laced with one boundary and four sixes, while Talat top-scored for the side; scoring a terrific half-century. He scored 52 off just 29 deliveries; smoking five boundaries and two sixes.

Yasir Khan, on the other hand, also chipped in; scoring a quickfire 30 off only 12 balls, smashing four boundaries and two sixes.

For the Gladiators, Nawaz starred with the ball; taking three wickets, while Naseem Shah and James Faulkner struck out a batter each.

Batting first, Gladiators set a decent 191-runs target for the Zalmi. Right-handed opener Smeed carried his bat till the last ball of the innings; scoring a magnificent 97 off just 62 deliveries.

The 20-years-old missed his century by just three runs, looked to pull the last ball of the innings out of the park but failed to do so. He smashed 11 boundaries and four sixes in the course of his outstanding innings.

The Gladiators openers wreaked havoc on the opposition bowlers after being put in to bat. Zalmi’s shoddy fielding contributed to the team’s demise, with Sohail Khan dropping Smeed earlier and Imam ul Haq dropping Ali’s regulation catch at deep midwicket afterwards.

The pair recorded a stunning 155-runs opening partnership before Ahsan fell short on Usman Qadir’s delivery. The right-handed batter looked to slog the ball over the mid-wicket boundary but failed to clear the rope. He scored a quick 73 off just 46 deliveries; smashing eight boundaries and three sixes.

For the Zalmi, Usman and Sameen claimed two wickets each.

SQUADS

Quetta Gladiators: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Will Smeed, Ahsan Ali, Ben Duckett, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sohail Tanveer, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Hasnain, James Faulkner, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Ashir Qureshi

Peshawar Zalmi: Shoaib Malik (c), Tom Kohler Cadmore, Yasir Khan, Haider Ali, Hussain Talat, Sherfane Rutherford, Ben Cutting, Sohail Khan, Usman Qadir, Sameen Gul, Pat Brown