Quetta Gladiators win against Peshawar Zalmi by 16 runs. Quetta Gladiators kicked off their Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9 campaign in spectacular fashion, clinching a thrilling victory against Peshawar Zalmi at Lahore’s iconic Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
In a clash that lived up to the hype, Quetta’s Purple Force managed to defend a formidable total of 207 runs, thanks to a stellar performance by their bowlers in the crucial death overs.
Despite a valiant effort by Peshawar’s Yellow Storm, led by the prolific Babar Azam who notched up a commendable 68 runs, they fell short by 17 runs in their pursuit of the mammoth target set by the Rossouw-led Gladiators.
The match witnessed an enthralling display of skill and talent, with young guns Saim Ayub and Babar Azam showcasing their prowess with the bat, propelling their side to a promising start.
Also read: Rilee Rossouw to lead Quetta Gladiators in PSL 9
However, a minor miscommunication between the two resulted in Saim’s unfortunate run-out after a well-compiled 42 runs.
Subsequently, Peshawar’s batting line-up struggled to maintain momentum, losing wickets at crucial junctures.
Quetta’s victory owed much to the heroics of power-hitters Jason Roy and Saud Shakeel, who orchestrated a commanding 157-run partnership in the first innings.
While Shakeel impressed with a brisk 74-run knock, captain Rossouw added icing to the cake by dispatching the ball over the ropes off his very first delivery.
On the bowling front, Quetta’s Irshad emerged as the pick of the bowlers for Zalmi, finishing with figures of 3-38, while Luke Wood and Zeeshan chipped in with crucial breakthroughs.
The encounter began with Peshawar Zalmi winning the toss and electing to field first, setting the stage for a thrilling contest at the historic Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore.
As Quetta Gladiators win against Peshawar Zalmi by 16 runs, Quetta Gladiators have laid down a marker early in the tournament, signaling their intent to challenge for the PSL title once again.
Playing XIs:
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (wk), Mohammad Haris, Rovman Powell, Asif Ali, Haseebullah Khan, Mehran Mumtaz, Aamer Jamal, Salman Irshad, Waqar Salamkheil.
Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy, Khawaja Nafay, Rilee Rossouw (c), Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Qadir, Mohammad Amir.
