Zalmi defeat Gladiators to lift PSL 2017 trophy

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi outclassed Quetta Gladiators by 58 runs in a high voltage match, in front of a jam-packed Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday to win the Pakistan Super League 2017 trophy.

Chasing a target of 149 runs, Quetta Gladiators crumbled against a disciplined bowling display by Peshawar Zalmi and were bowled out for just 90 runs in 16.3 overs, without a single six in entire innings, a first time in PSL history when a team innings was finished without a six.

Gladiators —who were playing without their star foreign players— never got the start it wanted in the chase of the target which brought them under the pressure and never allowed them to attempt a comeback in the game.

Morne Van Wyk got run out in the second over while Anamul Haque's wicket was picked up by Muhammad Asghar shortly.

Next one to go was Ahmad Shehzad who top-edged a bouncer from Hasan Ali, giving Khushdil Shah an easy catch.

Sarfraz Ahmed —who had scored two fours — went for the big one, only getting stumped off Muhammad Hafeez.

Saad Nasim tried to lift one off Wahab Riaz but could only find Iftikhar Ahmed at long-on.

Sean Ervine scored 24 off 19 and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed stroked five boundaries for his 11-ball 22, Anwar Ali scored 20 but the scores in 20s by the trio were not enough for Gladiators’ cause.

Mohammad Asghar got three wickets conceding just 16 runs in four overs. Wahab Riaz and Hassan Ali got two wickets apiece.

Sean Ervine was clean bowled off the bowling of Mohammad Asghar after scoring 24 runs while Muhammad Nawaz got out without troubling the scorers.

At the end of the 13th over, Gladiators were 72-7 with Anwar Ali and Rayad Emrit on the crease.

For Zalmi, Muhammad Asghar picked up three wickets while Hasan Ali, Hafeez and Wahab Riaz chipped in with one each.

Earlier, after a flying start Peshawar Zalmi was restricted to 148 for six in 20 overs, thanks to disciplined bowling by Gladiators’ Rayad Emrit from West Indies.

Openers Dawid Malan and Kamran Akmal provided Zalmis a quick stand of 42 runs in 4.4 overs, the stand was broken by Emrit taking the wicket of Dawid Malan. Malan scored 17 off 12 deliveries, smashing one six and one boundary.

Akmal was trapped LBW by emerging Hasan Khan after scoring 40.

On the very next ball, Marlon Samuels also got clean bowled to Muhammad Nawaz. Samuels could only score 19 off 17 balls.

Hasan Khan got the wicket of Khushdil Shah who was stumped off a wide.

Kamran Akmal scored 40 off 32 deliveries and his wicket was followed by a collapse of Zalmi’s middle order which brought them from 82/1 to 112/6.

However, some late fireworks by Darren Sammy helped Peshawar Zalmi post a respectable total on board. Sammy smashed three sixes and stroked one boundary to score 28 off 11 deliveries. Iftikhar Ahmed scored 14 off 21.

For Quetta Gladiators, Rayad Emrit took three wickets for 31 runs, Hassan Khan got two wickets conceding 34.