Advertisement
Advertisement
KARACHI: Sufiyan Muqeem and Babar Azam propelled the dominant Peshawar Zalmi to a decisive eight-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday.
Zalmi chased down a mere target of 154 in 18.3 overs, losing only two wickets in the process.
Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam made light work of the chase, adding 75 in 8.4 overs. The former played the core aggressor role while the latter played the second fiddle.
Haris departed after hitting five fours and a six in his 35 from 28 balls.
Following his departure, in-form Kusal Mendis paired up with Babar and stitched a 49-run partnership that threw the Gladiators out of the game. There wasn’t much to cheer for Quetta Gladiators bowlers as Zalmi batters kept them at bay with their stroke play.
Mendis was eventually caught after scoring 21 off 19 balls. Meanwhile, Babar continued to anchor the innings and finished with a boundary.
He top-scored with 71* from 51 balls laced with 10 fours while Aaron Hardie struck one boundary in his unbeaten 18 from 14 balls.
For Quetta Gladiators, Alzarri Joseph and Saud Shakeel picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi’s spinner Sufiyan Muqeem and pacer Mohammad Basit’s three-wicket haul bundled out Quetta Gladiators for a modest total
Put in to bat first, Quetta Gladiators’ shambolic batting display saw their innings folded for 154 in 20 overs.
The Gladiators lost their promoted opener, Ahsan Ali, for four in the first over. Following the early wicket, Saud Shakeel and Rilee Rossouw added 35 for the second wicket partnership. The scorecard read 39 when skipper Saud was run out after making 16 from 13 balls.
Peshawar Zalmi continued to chip away with wickets at regular intervals. Rossouw (26 off 18 balls) was cleaned up by Sufiyan Muqeem, whereas Shamyl Hussain departed for 12.
Consequently, Gladiators were 86-4 in 11.4 overs. The only silver lining was Hassan Nawaz, who top-scored with 37 off 35, including four boundaries. He was involved in a brief 26-run stand with Khawaja Nafay before getting caught behind.
Nafay could not get going as well and was lbw for 20.
Peshawar Zalmi bowlers squeezed the runs flow and eventually bowled the opposition out on the final ball of the innings.
For Peshawar Zalmi, Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit shared six wickets between them.
READ: Rilee Rossouw sets PSL record during Peshawar Zalmi clash
