Zalmi Beat Gladiators By 1 Run In PSL Play Off

(@rukhshanmir)

Zalmi beat Gladiators by 1 run in PSL play off

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Mar, 2018 ) :Lahore-75 Peshawar Zalmi beat Quetta Gladiators by one run in a nail biting finish in the play off of the third edition of the Pakistan Super League here on Tuesday at Gadaffi stadium.

Peshawar put into bat by Quetta captain Sarfraz Ahmad after winning the toss, were all out at 157 in 20 overs and restricted the opponents at 156 for 9 in allotted 20 overs. Tail ender, Anwar (28) revived the hopes for Quetta's win with fire work batting smashing three sixes and one four in the last over of the match in which they needed 26 runs.

Quetta were at the threshold of a possible success needing three runs from last delivery of the play but ran out of luck as Anwar could not hit a four or six and was dropped close to the boundary and Mir Hamza (0) was run out as the pair attempted the second run and Zalmi emerged winner.

Medium pacer and man of the match Hasan Ali caused greater panic for Quetta by removing opener Asad Shafiq (0) caught by Sammy off the first delivery of the innings and got another success by getting rid of other opener Kohler Cadmore (5) leaving opponents at 17 for 2.

Middle order duo of Mohammad Nawaz and Sarfraz Ahmad repaired the loss by producing 63 runs for third wicket. As Quetta were looking easy and in comfort for run hunt, the partnership came to an end with the departure of Nawaz who was caught at third man by Umaid off the bowling Sameen at a total 80 for 3 .

Sameen underlined his talent by then getting the prized wicket of Sarfraz at the same total and found himself for performing a rare feat of hat trick which was denied by the coming batsman RR Rossouw (8).

Interestingly both Nawaz and Sarfraz 35 runs each. Nawaz cracked five fours and one six off 32 balls and Sarfraz smashed three fours and two six in 21 balls. With time tickling away and Quetta losing wickets Quetta seemed away from run chase with Zalmi bowlers in control.

With the departure of Mahmudullah (19), NLTC Perera (12) and Hasan Khan (0) at a grand total of 133 for 8 in 18.

5 overs, Quetta found it hard to salvage their pride with Zalmi players doing their best at the field to welcome the victory.

Hasan and Sameen took two wickets each for identical 21 runs. Wahab and Umaid Asif snapped up two wickets for 26 runs respectively. Earlier Peshawar started its innings in a disastrous manner losing their master blaster of previous two matches, Kamran Akmal (0) at a total before light shower halted the play at 8 for without loss when the game was just four balls old.

Kamran attempted a shot to the point and an inside edge off the bowling of pace man Rahat Ali shattered his stumps. Things turned bad to worst for Zalmi when ADS Fletcher (1) fell at a total of just 10 runs.

A third wicket stand of 44 runs, the highest partnership of Zalmi innings, ensured prosperity and safety and opener Tamim Iqbal (27) and Muhammad Hafeez (25) joined hands in the stand and played some delightful shot for the entertained of a full house.

The pair was dislodged when Hafeez was bowled by Mahmudullah and the batsman stroked four fours and one six in 14 balls innings and Tamim forced five boundaries off 29 balls. In reality LA Dawson was the innings maker of Peshawar with a quick fired highest (62).

His sensible batting frustrated the hopes of Quetta bowlers for wrapping up Zalmi innings on a low total on a cold evening after rain. In his 35 ball innings, Dawson slammed four mighty sixes and six fours amid rousing applause from a charged crowd.

Dawson was the eight batsman out at a total of 137 in 17.5 overs when he tried to hit hard a slower delivery from Rahat and keeper Safraz firmly held a bottom edge. Four of coming Zalmi batsmen Saad Nasim (9), Umaid Asif (7), skipper DJG Sammy (2) Hasan Ali (4) failed to progress to double figures.

Wahab Riaz made 15. Rahat who done earlier damage, later mopped up the tail to finish with four for just 16 runs and NLTC Perera took two for 24 runs. APP/msa/zqr