RAWALPINDI – Peshawar Zalmi beat Quetta Gladiators by 76 runs in the 25th Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 9 match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Friday evening.
Chasing a challenging 197-run target for victory, Gladiators could not capitalize on the decent opening partnership of 46 runs and were all out on 120 in 17.5 overs. Saud Shakeel was the top scorer with 24 runs followed by Jason Roy who made 16. Akeal Hosein scored 14 runs, Mohammad Amir 13, Laurie Evans 12 and Omair Bin Yousaf 10 runs. No other batter could enter the double figure. Saim Ayub, Luke Wood, Khurram Shahzad and Mehran Mumtaz bagged two wickets each while Aamer Jamal and Naveen-ul-Haq took one wicket each. Saim Ayub was named player of the match.
After being asked to bat first by Gladiators skipper Rilee Rossouw, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam provided a solid foundation with 46 runs opening partnership. Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris put on 47 runs together to provide a perfect launching pad. Cameos of Tom Kohler Cadmore and Rovman Powell helped Zalmi reach 196/8 in the allotted 20 overs. Babar Azam was the top scorer with 53 runs followed by Tom Kohler Cadmore who made 33. Saim Ayub scored 30 runs, Rovman Powell 28, Mohammad Haris 20 and Naveen-ul-Haq 10 runs. Akeal Hosein bagged four wickets and Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Hasnain and Sohail Khan took one wicket each while Mohammad Haris was run out.
Quetta Gladiators Playing XI: Jason Roy, Saud Shakeel, Khawaja Nafay, Rilee Rossouw (c), Omair Bin Yousuf, Laurie Evans (wk), Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, Sohail Khan
Peshawar Zalmi Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Tom Kohler Cadmore, Haseebullah Khan, Rovman Powell, Aamer Jamal, Luke Wood, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mehran Mumtaz, Khurram Shahzad