Zalmi reign supreme
Peshawar outplay Quetta Gladiators in PSL final in Lahore
PESHAWAR Zalmi stamped their authority in grand fashion as they thumped Quetta Gladiators by a 58run margin to emerge proud winners in the second edition of the Pakistan Super League at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore. Zalmi, invited to bat first, managed to score 148 for 6, thanks to some lusty hits by their skipper Darren Sammy (28 off 11) down the order after in-form Kamran Akmal had set up the innings with a fine knock of 40 runs off 32 balls.
Chasing on the tricky wicket, the Gladiators were never at ease as they kept losing wickets before bundling out for 90 runs in 16.3 overs. Mohammad Ashghar was the pick of the Zalmi bowlers with a fine spell of three wickets for 16 runs.
Peshawar Zalmi emerged champions of the Pakistan Super League after outplaying Quetta Gladiators by 58 runs in the final in Lahore on Sunday. Cricket returned to Pakistan with a bang as Gaddafi Stadium was jam packed with game-starved fans.
It can prove a small step in bringing international cricket back to Pakistan. A full house of nearly 30,000 fans presented a rare scenario at a cricket stadium in the country after a long time. The final was also witnessed by a number of ministers and dignitaries.
Peshawar got an overwhelming support from the fans in Lahore. It is a great sign for Pakistan cricket and credit goes to Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi for creating such an atmosphere. He pursued his foreign players to come to Pakistan which proved a game-changer.
He told Khaleej Times in the middle of the tournament that all his players will be going to Pakistan if Peshawar Zalmi reached the final and he made his words count. Eight foreign players figured in the final — four each from Peshawar and Quetta. Quetta Gladiators stuttered in their chase as they lost wickets in clusters. They were reduced to three for 13 in the fifth over.
Quetta’s dependable captain Sarfraz Ahmad failed in the final as he managed only 22 runs to leave his team at four for 29 in the sixth over.
Wahab Riaz sent Saad Naseem back to the pavilion to make it five for 37 in the eighth over. New arrival Sean Ervine from Zimbabwe ignited some hope for Quetta with a gritty knock but was undone by Mohammad Asghar.
Asghar consumed Mohammad Nawaz in the same over to leave Quetta reeling on seven for 72 to finish his spell with the figures of three for 16 as Quetta were bowled out for 90 in 16.2 overs.
Peshawar’s star player Shahid Afridi missed the final through injury but he was in the stadium to boost his teammates.
Earlier, Peshawar could manage only 148 runs despite a brisk start by Kamran and Malan after Sarfraz Ahmad’s decision to bowl first.
Malan was cleaned up by new arrival Rayad Emrit in the fourth over to put the brakes on Peshawar’s scoring. Then Marlin Samuel joined Kamran in the middle and Peshawar reached the 50-run mark in the sixth over. Kamran departed after making a brisk 40, and was followed by youngster Khushdil Khan who could manage only one run. In-form batsman Mohammad Hafeez failed on the big occasion to leave Peshawar in some sort of trouble.
A cluster of wickets put Peshawar completely on the back foot before captain Darren Sammy’s little cameo of 28 off 11 deliveries helped the team to reach 148 runs in 20 overs.
Earlier, singer Ali Zafar opened the show with his new PSL song ‘Ab Khel Jamay Ga’ accompanied by cultural dancers. Fakhir also lifted the mood with old favourite ‘Tere Bina Dil Na Lagay’.