Hasnain's bowling brilliance in vain as Peshawar beats Quetta with ease
Mohammad Hasnain took 3/13 (Source: PCB)
Disciplined bowling performance, followed by a comfortable chase with the bat helped Peshawar Zalmi to beat Quetta Gladiators by four wickets in Match 9 in the ongoing Pakistan Super League 2023 (PSL) at National Stadium in Karachi.
Iftikhar, Odean late blitz helped Zalmi to post 154
After being asked to bat, Quetta Gladiators got off to a very slow start, managing only 28 on the board in the first six overs. Both of their openers, Jason Roy and Martin Guptill, never got going and Quetta were struggling big time with only 43 on the board with a loss of three wickets at the halfway mark.
Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed and Iftikhar Ahmed joined hands to rebuild the innings. Both the batters took time, before starting to play their shots finally from the 14th over. The duo went on to add 74 runs for the fourth wicket as Sarfaraz departed early in the death overs.
Iftikhar, at the other end, eyeing a big finish, started the big shots and he was well complimented by Odean Smith at the other end. The duo added 43 off 19 balls at the end, with Quetta scoring a massive 97 off the last seven overs and posted a respectable 154 at the end of 20 overs.
Powell, Neesham cameos got Zalmi over the line
James Neesham (Source: PCB)
Chasing 155, Peshawar Zalmi got off to a flying start in the powerplay but lost regular wickets. As a result Zalmi were 53 for three at the end of the sixth over. Babar Azam, who was holding one end, got off to a slow start and went on to get out after the powerplay with an 18-ball 19.
The wicket of Babar marked the arrival of James Neesham, who joined Rovman Powell in the middle and the pair kept the scoreboard moving. Powell got out after a well made 36 off 23 but Neesham at the other end continued the onslaught, before getting out on 37 off 23.
Dasun Shanaka and Wahab Riaz kept their calm, taking Zalmi across the line with nine balls remaining. Mohammad Hasnain was the pick of the bowlers, who finished with a figure of 3 for 13 in four overs.
Brief scores:
Quetta Gladiators: 154/4 (20)
Iftikhar Ahmed 50* (34), Sarfaraz Ahmed 39 (30);
Usman Qadir 2-26 (4), James Neesham 1-28 (4)
Peshawar Zalmi: 157/6 (18.3)
James Neesham 37 (23), Rovman Powell 36 (23);
Mohammad Hasnain 3-13 (4), Naseem Shah 1-19 (4)
Peshawar Zalmi won by 4 wickets.
 "Kaushik Kashyap")