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| Photo: PCB |
In a thrilling finale at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on March 5, Peshawar Zalmi delivered a commanding performance to secure a 58-run victory over Quetta Gladiators, clinching the coveted Pakistan Super League (PSL) title. Darren Sammy's team, known for their consistency throughout the league, celebrated a memorable triumph as Quetta succumbed to a batting collapse on a challenging pitch.
The match began amidst high anticipation, with Sarfraz Ahmed opting to field after winning the toss, giving Peshawar the chance to set a target in this high-stakes encounter. Rayad Emrit, drafted in as a last-minute overseas replacement, made a significant impact with his nagging medium pace, claiming impressive figures of 3 for 30 in his allotted four overs.
Emrit's early breakthroughs, including the dismissal of opener Dawid Malan, hindered Peshawar's momentum despite a brisk start by Kamran Akmal. Hasan Khan and Mohammad Nawaz further tightened the screws with their disciplined spin bowling, eventually leading to Kamran's dismissal for a quickfire 40 off 32 balls.
With Peshawar at 101 for 4 in the 14th over, Emrit returned to dismantle their middle order, removing Mohammad Hafeez and Iftikhar Ahmed in consecutive deliveries. However, a late flourish from Darren Sammy, who smashed an impactful 28 off just 11 balls, propelled Peshawar to a competitive total of 148 for 6.
In response, Quetta's chase faltered early as Mohammad Asghar, the left-arm spinner, wreaked havoc with crucial wickets at the top, dismissing Morne van Vyk and Anamul Haque to leave Quetta reeling at 13 for 2 within four overs. Hasan Ali added to Quetta's woes by dismissing Ahmed Shehzad for just 1 run in the fifth over.
Despite a brief 35-run partnership between Sean Ervine and Anwar Ali, Quetta struggled to counter Peshawar's bowling attack. Mohammad Asghar continued his dominance, claiming three wickets for just 16 runs, while Wahab Riaz and Chris Jordan also contributed to wrap up Quetta's innings for a paltry 90 runs in 16.3 overs.
Peshawar Zalmi's victory was a testament to their all-round prowess, combining disciplined bowling with a determined batting effort on a challenging pitch, thus sealing their status as champions of the PSL.
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