A belligerent batting performance by wicket keeper Kamran Akmal helped Peshawar Zalmi record a convincing win over Quetta Gladiators in the fourth match of HBL PSL V 2020 played in National Stadium, here on Saturday.
Chasing a target of 148 for 5 set by Quetta Gladiators, Peshawar Zalmi won the match in 18.3 overs making 153 for the loss of 4 wickets. Peshawar Zalmi victory also end winning streak of Quetta Gladiators.
Kamran Akmal's antagonistic style of baton-charging dragged Gladiators' bowling attack on the back foot that pushed Zalmi to remain on top throughout the innings. He made 101 of 55 balls with 13 boundaries and four sixes at all sides of the fence. Fawad took Akmal's wicket when he played a sweep shot and the ball went straight to Jason Roy at deep midwicket. Fawad sent Shoaib and Kamran into pavilion while Sohail and Mills took one each.
Earlier, Zalmi's captain Darren Sammy won the toss and invited Sarfaraz Ahmed to bat first. Jason Roy and Shane Watson opened the innings for Quetta Gladiators. The much anticipated Quetta's foreign opener Shane Watson remained unable to impress the audience during his second inning in this edition of HBL PSL. He was run out in opening match at 15 and again failed to play a big knock; he was caught by Hassan on Riaz bowling making 8 runs with a boundary.
On the other hand, English star opener Jason Roy shined with 73 runs inning. He hit six boundaries and a massive six over a midwicket fence. He made a partnership of 61 runs with Sarfaraz that lifted Quetta to set a total of 148 runs in 20th overs. No other batsmen except Ahmed Shehzad entered into double figures.
Sarfaraz made 41 of 25 balls with 5 fours and a six. Ahmed Shehzad went on the crease at one down position but he struggled from a first ball. He made 12 of 12 balls and was caught by Banton on Aamir.
Azam Khan, a star batsman of Gladiators in the previous match, was bowled out by Riaz at 5 runs. Muhammad Nawaz was caught behind the wicket on Rahat bowl at 2. Wahab took two while Sammy, Rahat and Aamir take one each.
Man of the match Kamran Akmal at a post match conference said: "If anyone (Umar Akmal) found guilty then he should be penalized; investigation is in progress; let the PCB decides." Quetta's Fawad said that Gladiators did not bowl bad but Kamran batted well that led their defeat in the match.
The Childhood Cancer Awareness Day (CCAD) has been observed during Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi match. Teams, match officials and match commentators wore gold ribbons, synonymous with Childhood Cancer Awareness campaigns.
The stumps in use for both matches was also branded in gold, while a cancer patient has been invited at the post-match presentation ceremonies where they have been presented a memorabilia signed shirt from the captains. Childhood cancer awareness messages have also been displayed on the digital screens placed at the venue to create awareness about the disease aimed at educating the spectators.
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