Watson propels Gladiators to win against Zalmi by eight wickets

ABU DHABI (Monitoring Desk): Shane Watson played a match-winning knock of 91 runs for Quetta Gladiators as they thrashed Peshawar Zalmi by eight wickets in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season four at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Ahmed Shahzad also batted well for Gladiators as returning to form, Shahzad scored 50 runs off 45 balls.

Earlier, Kamran Akmal smashed 72 runs off 50 balls to help Peshawar Zalmi reaching a decent total of 165-4. Pollard was the other successor for Zalmi as he played a cameo of 44 runs to further strengthen the total of his team who were looking in the mood to charge the opponents.

Zalmi started their inning with a strong opening partnership of 58 runs between Kamran Akmal and Andre Fletcher. They both struck a couple of good strikes in the start to put pressure on the opponents.

Mohammad Nawaz later brought the first breakthrough for Gladiators keeping the ball tight and straight to dismiss Andre Fletcher who 26 runs. Fawad Ahmed got his man as Imam-ul-Haq edged the ball high in the sky which was caught by Mohammad Husnain at point region.

Akmal then along with Pollard put 31 runs together for the third wicket before losing the wicket on a yorker off young pace sensation Mohammad Husnain who finished with the figures of 1-34.

Mohammad Nawaz, DJ Bravo, and Fawad Ahmed also took a wicket each.

In reply, Gladiators didn’t start well as they lost Ahsan Ali early on just eight runs off Sameen Gul who struck on his first ball of the match. But later on, Watson and Shahzad put 129 runs on the scoreboard for the second wicket.

Umaid Asif bowled a perfect yorker to get rid of Ahmad Shahzad who came back in form smashing five boundaries during his stay at the crease. Watson on the other hand six boundaries and as many sixes.