Quetta Gladiators reached the final of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) in a cliffhanger against Peshawar Zalmi by 10 runs in the playoff qualifier of the league played at National Stadium Karachi (NSK) on Wednesday. It was Shane Watson who broke the shackles for Gladiators after the all-rounder grab the ball a year into hiatus in the last over of the Zalmi innings. Both Daren Sammy and Keiron Pollard were well on way to take their side to victory but perished against the Aussie all-rounder.
However, Zalmi still have another chance to make into the finals as they would meet either Karachi Kings or Islamabad United in the Eliminator on Friday. Speedster Mohammad Hasnain got the first wicket for his side, after Kamran Akmal got caught at deep by Rilee Rossouw on 22. Off spinner Mohammad Nawaz caught and bowled Sohaib Maqsood on 7.
Part timer Rilee Rossouw got the breakthrough for Gladiators with the wicket of Imam ul Haq who bowled on 23. Liam Dawson soon left his side after he landed a long hop straight into the hands of Ahsan Ali delivery posting 5 runs. Mohammad Hasnain strike again with the important wicket of Misbah ul Haq who got lbw on 18.
Batting first Quetta Gladiators posted 186 at the loss of six wickets against arch rivals Peshawar Zalmi. For Quetta Gladiators Shane Watson was the top scorer with a blistering knock of 71 off 43 deliveries. Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and elect to field.
Speedster Tymal Mills bowled last match hero Ahmed Shehzad on 1. However, it was veteran fast bowler Wahab Riaz who got the ultimate breakthrough for Zalmi when he got the scalp of old nemesis Shane Watson bowling him out.
Riaz strike in the later phase of the game with the wicket of Umar Akmal who got caught by Imam ul Haq in the circle at 22. Sameen Gul joined the party, with the wicket of Ahsan Ali, who got lbw after a fine innings of 46 off 31 deliveries. Rilee Rossouw departed after he edged one and got caught and bowled by Keiron Pollard. Zalmi's Hasan Ali got the wicket of Sarfraz Ahmed caught by Liam Dawson on 11 in the penultimate over.