Gladiators reach the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final by beating Peshawar Zalmi by one run in a nail biting finish in front of a jam-packed Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Peshawar Zalmi skipper Shahid Afridi threw away his wicket as Quetta Gladiators tighten grip on the match in defence of 133.
Grant Elliott took three wickets and Mohammad Nawaz two to dismiss Zalmi’s Mohammad Hafeez (15), Brad Hodge (zero), Shahid Yousuf (15), Jonny Bairstow (15) and Shahid Afridi (two) to bring Quetta Gladiators back into the game.
Anwar Ali also contributed by claiming a crucial wicket of Kamran Akmal (nine).
Zalmi, chasing 133 posted by Gladiators, started off well but Nawaz, with wickets on back to back deliveries, turned things back into the favour of his team.
Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi bowlers kept their line and length in check to wrap up Quetta Gladiators for 133 (all out).
Bismillah Khan was the first to depart on zero, and others coming down the order followed suite, except for Kevin Pietersen (53) and Kumar Sangakkara (37) who put up some resistance.
Ahmed Shehzad (six), Sarfraz Ahmed (zero), Mohammad Nawaz (20), Grant Elliott (five), Nathan McCullum (five), Anwar Ali (one) and Zulfiqar Babar (zero) failed to deliver in front of a charged-up Zalmi pace attack.
Wahab Riaz was the most successful bowler with figures 3.3-0-17-3, followed by Shaun Tait 4-0-23-2. Mohammad Asghar, Hasan Ali, Shahid Afridi and Darren Sammy also chipped in by claiming a wicket each.
England’s Johnny Bairstow and New Zealand’s Nathan McCullum made their Pakistan Super League (PSL) debuts as Zalmi won the toss and elected to field first in the first playoff.
Bairstow is making his first appearance for Zalmi who also persisted with rookie paceman Hassan Ali for the all-important game.
For the Gladiators, McCullum comes in place of Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi who has linked up with the national team for the Asia Cup Twenty20.
Sixteen days ago the prospect of staging the PSL on time seemed uncertain. Yet two weeks after a spectacular opening ceremony, Pakistan’s T20 league has generated great buzz.
The Gladiators, led by Sarfraz Ahmed, have captured the imagination with their low-key build up to the tournament and the presence of West Indies great Sir Viv Richards as the team’s mentor.
They have unearthed a star in all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, while players like Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura have been instrumental in wins.
Zalmi, led by the enigmatic Shahid Afridi, have backed dazzling marketing campaigns with powerful performances on the field making them the most-admired team of the PSL.
The two teams have a 1-1 head-to-head record but Zalmi won the last encounter comprehensively.
Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Brad Hodge, Shahid Yousuf, Jonny Bairstow, Shahid Afridi (captain), Darren Sammy, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Asghar, Shaun Tait and Hasan Ali.
Quetta Gladiators: Bismillah Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Kevin Pietersen, Kumar Sangakkara, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain/wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Grant Elliott, Nathan McCullum, Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar and Aizaz Cheema.
