Quetta Gladiators break shackles, grab PSL trophy for the first time

It was a moment worth waiting for after Quetta Gladiators finally managed to lift the Pakistan Super League (PSL) crown for the first time, after Sarfraz men beat arch rivals Peshawar Zalmi by eight wickets and 13 balls to spare, in front of a full house crowd at the National Stadium, Karachi on Sunday.

Quetta Gladiators were unlucky no more, as Ahmed Shehzad who made a strong case for himself, hit an unbeaten fifty in the final, and alongside Rilee Rossouw scored the home run and guided Gladiators, one of the most consistent teams in the tournament to 139 runs target and their first ever PSL crown.

NSK chants, Ahmed... Ahmed... Ahmed!!! @iamAhmadshahzad celebrates his fifty and possibly match winning contribution from the opener.

LIVE: https://t.co/AvvNVO1kH6#HBLPSL #KhelDeewanoKa #QGvPZ pic.twitter.com/BTbbZHjKcD

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) 17 March 2019

Quetta Gladiators got a major shock earlier on after star player Shane Watson was run out on 7 by Umar Amin. Speedster Wahab Riaz got the second wicket for Zalmi, after Ahsan Ali got caught by Daren Sammy on 25.

Umar Amin hits bullseye to run-out leading run scorer of the season, Watosn. Zalmi are fighting back.

LIVE: https://t.co/AvvNVO1kH6#HBLPSL #KhelDeewanoKa #QGvPZ pic.twitter.com/IUsg242qaa

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) 17 March 2019

Peshawar Zalmi posted 138 runs at the loss of seven wickets in their 20-overs, against Quetta Gladiators.

Umar Amin was the top scorer for Peshawar Zalmi with 38 runs off 33 deliveries.

Speedster Mohammad Hasnain got the first strike for Gladiators, after Imam ul Haq was catch out by Ahmed Shehzad of a soft dismissal on 3. Hasnain picked his second wicket and Zalmi's fourth, after Umar Amin got caught by Sohail Tanvir on 38.

The youngster took his third wicket Keiron Pollard, as Windies batsman departed at 7 after a faint edge got caught by Sarfraz Ahmed behind the wicket. Hasnain finished off his four-over spell with figures of 3-30.

Off spinner Mohammad Nawaz got the final laugh after he bowled veteran batsman Kamran Akmal, who departed after an explosive knock of 21 off 15 deliveries.

Make it 6 4 0 0 4 W!@mnawaz94 removes Kamran with a beauty!

PZ: 31/2 (3.6 ov). LIVE: https://t.co/AvvNVO1kH6#HBLPSL #KhelDeewanoKa #QGvPZ pic.twitter.com/7mhpIsoOV6

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) 17 March 2019

Gladiators all rounder DJ Bravo got the third wicket of Sohaib Maqsood on 20, after he was caught of a soft full toss to Rilee Rossouw at deep. Leggie Fawad Ahmed, who made into the finals despite an injury scare in the last match picked up the fifth wicket of Nabi Gul on 9, who got caught by Ahmed Shehzad at at deep midwicket.

OUT! Slower ball from @DJBravo47 and @sohaibcricketer (20) is the one to perish. Peshawar Zalmi are 62/3 in the 10th over

Ball-by-ball clips & scorecard 👉 https://t.co/6DBUDl8EUY #QGvPZ #PSL2019 #PSLFinal #KhelDeewanoKa #CricketForAll pic.twitter.com/LEAFxf2oQ2

— Cricingif (@_cricingif) 17 March 2019

Wahab Riaz was the seveth wicket to fall, after he was run out by Mohammad Nawaz on 7.

Quetta Gladiators won the final toss of Pakistan Super League (PSL) fourth edition and elected to bowl first against Peshawar Zalmi

“Anything above 180 is going to be a good score,” said Sammy.

"Want to congratulate the people who have come to the ground. Tells everyone that Pakistan loves cricket," said Gladiators skipper, Sarfraz.

World Cup winner @Carles5puyol vs. Gladiator Captain @SarfarazA_54 ahead of #HBLPSL 2019 Final.#KhelDeewanoKa pic.twitter.com/mNhDBaszAy

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) 17 March 2019

The PSL 2019 final was attended by President Arif Alvi, COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, ICC CEO Dave Richardson, Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, and DG ISPR Major Gen Asif Ghafoor among others.

Teams:

Quetta Gladiators: Shane Watson, Ahmed Shehzad, Ahsan Ali, Rilee Rossouw, Umar Akmal, Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt, wk), Dwayne Bravo, Mohammad Nawaz, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Hasnain, Fawad Ahmed

Peshawar Zalmi: Kamran Akmal (wk), Imam-ul-Haq, Kieron Pollard, Sohaib Maqsood, Darren Sammy (capt), Wahab Riaz, Chris Jordan, Hasan Ali, Tymal Mills, Umar Amin, Nabi Gul

We are all set for the BIG #HBLPSL 2019 final. Who do you think is going to win this one?

LIVE: https://t.co/AvvNVO1kH6#HBLPSL #KhelDeewanoKa #QGvPZ pic.twitter.com/WlclK9jSVJ

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) 17 March 2019