Dubai: Defending champions Peshawar Zalmi held their nerve to qualify for the second eliminator against Karachi Kings after defeating Quetta Gladiators by one run in a nail-biting last-ball thriller at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Quetta, chasing 158 for victory, needed 25 in the last over. In a dramatic turn of events, all-rounder Anwar Ali smashed three sixes and one four to bring down the 158-run chase to three runs off one ball. But a run-out on the last delivery ensured Peshawar Zalmi were still standing at the end of it all while the Quetta Gladiators’ campaign came to an abrupt end despite the heroics.
Peshawar fell short by a run to fold up at 157 all out in 20 overs with former England allrounder Liam Dawson scoring a 35-ball 62 with six boundaries and four sixes. Quetta paceman Rahat Ali took 4-16.
Peshawar’s pace attack of Hasan Ali (2-21), Sameen Gul (2-21), Wahab Riaz (2-26) and Umaid Asif (2-26) kept chipping away at Quetta’s batting despite Sarfraz Ahmad and Mohammad Nawaz making 35 each. Hasan Ali took the Man of the Match award for his 2-21.
Gladiators’ skipper Sarfraz Ahmad expressed disappointment, saying the team lost a game which they had in their control. “The match was in our hands, and I feel we lost the game because of our own errors. Nawaz and I shouldn’t have been dismissed that time,” he said.
“If we were sensible, we could’ve even taken it to the super over, but the pressure got the better of the boys in the end,” said the Pakistan skipper.
Gladiators suffered a series of setbacks in their 158-run chase as Umaid Asif removed both Mahmudullah and Rilee Rossouw within a single over. Fast bowler Wahab Riaz took the wickets of Thisara Perera and Hassan Khan on scores of 12 and nought, respectively.
Gladiators had a nightmarish start as they lost both openers early, after a gutsy 62 off 35 balls by Liam Dawson lifted Peshawar Zalmi to a competitive total of 157.
