PSL: Quetta Gladiators outclass Peshawar Zalmi to reach final

F.P. Report

KARACHI: Despite some fierce batting display by Darren Sammy (46 off 21 balls) and Kevin Pollard (42 off 21 balls) Quetta Gladiators hung on to reach the final of the 4th edition of Pakistan Super League after defeating Peshawar Zalmi by 10 runs.

Chasing a target of 186 runs Zalmi managed to score 176 runs despite 83 runs partnership between the two West Indians Sammy and Pollard. Sammy hit five sixes before both fell in the penultimate over of the match.

Earlier, after Zalmi won the toss and opted to field first, they dealt an early blow to the Gladiators, dismissing their in-form opener Ahmed Shehzad (1 off 4 balls) in just the 2nd over.

Thankfully, the two-time finalists are stacked in in-form-openers department. With Shehzad gone, Watson took charge, hitting Peshawar Zalmi bowlers almost at will. Watson and Ali took the score to 53-1 after 5 overs and 96-1 after 10.

Gladiators finished their innings at 186-6. Shane Watson led the scoreboard with a 71-run knock followed by Ahsan Ali with 46 runs.

Wahab Riaz picked up two wickets for Zalmi while Sameen Gul, KA Pollard, TS Mills and Hasan Ali each picked up a single wicket.

Peshawar Zalmi in their run chase on the other hand kept on loosing wickets in regular intervals and were 90 for the loss of 5 wickets when Captain Darren Sammy joined his countryman Pollard to give the capacity crowd what they were waiting for — a nail-biting finish of the first qualifier of HBL PSL 2019. Sammy and Pollard in six overs made 83 runs. But when they were looking to secure another memorable win for Peshawar Zalmi, Shane Watson was given the responsibility to bowl the last over by Quetta Gladiator captain Sarfraz Ahmad.

Shane Watson bowled Pollard after being hit for a six. Sammy got run out the very next ball which also secured a win for Quetta.

Islamabad United will face Karachi Kings in the fisrt eliminator today (Thursday).