AFRIDI LIGHTS UP DUBAI
dubai — Shahid Afridi conjured a brilliant rearguard to steer Peshawar Zalmi past Quetta Gladiators in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday night.
His side had encountered road blocks and had made a mess of a meagre chase. But Afridi fought fire with fire to see his side through with a two-wicket victory, with four balls to spare.
Afridi remained unbeaten on 45 from 23 balls with three sixes and an equal number of boundaries.
Peshawar Zalmi’s fourth win took them to nine points, the same as the Quetta Gladiators.
In pursuit of 129, Peshawar Zalmi lost wickets in clumps and had lost five wickets for the addition of just two runs.
And then, they were seven down for 89 after Mohammad Hafeez was dismissed, after he and Afridi had put on 37 for the seventh wicket.
But a defiant Afridi attacked to take them over the line.
Bangladesh off-spinner Mahmudullah picked up three for 23, while left-arm quick Tymal Mills also took two wickets.
Earlier, the Quetta Gladiators spluttered to 128 all out in their 20 overs after being asked to take first strike by Peshawar Zalmi captain Darren Sammy.
Young left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar did the damage with the emerging player snapping up three key wickets, those of both openers Asad Shafiq, Ahmed Shehzad and Kevin Pietersen.
The left-arm medium pace of Wahab Riaz and pacer Hasan Ali supplemented him by picking up two wickets apiece.
The Quetta Gladiators’ total revolved around the 41 scored by KP, but it wasn’t one of those swashbuckling ones, with him made to work hard for those runs. His knock came from 43 deliveries and had four boundaries.
South African Kolpak cricketer Rilee Rossouw came up with 38 from 34 balls with three boundaries and two sixes.
KP and Rossouw were also involved in a 86-run partnership for the third wicket.
Mohammad Nawaz struck a 12ball 18 but there were no substantial scores apart from these three.
Asghar, who came on to bowl the second over, wiped off both the openers Shafiq and Shehzad after which the Quetta Gladiators stuttered to 28 for 2 in the powerplay.
After KP and Rossouw struck up that stand, left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan foxed Rossouw, with the left-hander caught by Hasan Ali.
A little later, Asghar, who replaced Shakib, took out KP, caught by Hasan Ali.
After that, it was pretty much wickets falling at regular intervals and the Quetta Gladiators finished up at 128.