The Peshawar Zalmi thrashed the Quetta Gladiators by 58 runs in the Pakistan Super League-II (PSL-II) 2017 final here at Qaddafi Stadium on Sunday. Batting first, Peshawar Zalmi scored 148/6 in allotted 20 overs. In reply Quetta Gladiators were all out at 90 runs in 16.3 overs.
Earlier, Quetta's skipper Sarfraz won the toss and chose to field. However, his decision proved wrong.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Governor Punjab Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana, KPK Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, federal and provincial ministers, political leaders including JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq, AML chairman Sheikh Rasheed, Javed Hashmi, Amir Muqam, and Khawaja Saad Rafiq witnessed the match.
Batting first, Zalmi kicked off their innings with three solid boundaries smacked by opener Kamran Akmal, the middle order appeared to collapse under pressure halfway through the game, with Akmal, Dawid Malan, Marlon Samuels and Khushdil Shah's wickets falling thick and fast. Zalmi picked up the pace by the end of the game, delivering a total of 148/6.
Akmal and skipper Darren Sammy were the heavy hitters this innings, with the opener racking up a quick 40 before his dismissal, and Sammy closing with 28 runs - 22 of which were boundaries (three sixes and 1 four).
Gladiators' bowler Rayad Emrit was a force to be reckoned with, taking three wickets - Mohammad Hafeez, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Malan - with an economy of 31 runs off four overs. Mohammad Nawaz conceded just 15 runs off his four overs, taking one wicket.
In reply, Quetta Gladiators made a slow start to their innings, making only one run in the first over and losing Morne Van Wyk to a run-out on the third ball of the second.