Tamim's Zalmi knock out Riyad's Quetta

In a thrilling encounter at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore last night, Peshawar Zalmi prevailed over Quetta Gladiators by just one run after the last over of their Pakistan Super League Eliminator started with Quetta needing 25 runs to win.

Anwar Ali took 23 of those runs, which included three sixes and a four off Liam Dawson, but needing three runs off the last ball to eclipse Zalmi's 157 all out, Mir Hamza was run out going for a second run as Quetta ended on 156 for nine in 20 overs. The defeat eliminated Quetta from this year's edition.

There were decent contributions from the two Bangladesh cricketers playing in the match. Tamim Iqbal gave Zalmi solidity after a shaky start with a 29-ball 27 and Mahmudullah Riyad took one wicket, that of Mohammad Hafeez, and scored a 20-ball 19 for Quetta.

Tamim hit two boundaries in the first over after Zalmi were asked to bat first. While he lost opening partner Kamran Akmal and one-down Andre Fletcher in the next two overs, Tamim struck three more boundaries before scoring his first single. He was eventually caught out trying to launch Mohammad Nawaz over long on, leaving Zalmi on 58 for four. It was then up to Dawson to hit a 35-ball 62 to take Quetta to 157 before being bundled out in the last ball.

In chase, a pair of 35s from Nawaz and Quetta skipper Sarfraz Ahmed helped them recover from an early wobble, but the innings never picked up much momentum as wickets fell regularly, one of them being Mahmudullah's, clean bowled by Umaid Asif. Until the 20th over, Zalmi looked certain winners before Anwar's late assault made things interesting.

SCORES IN BRIEF

PESHAWAR ZALMI: 157 all out in 20 overs (Tamim 27, Hafeez 25, Dawson 62; Rahat 4-16, T Perera 2-24, Mahmudullah 1-20)

QUETTA GLADIATORS: 156 for 9 in 20 overs (Nawaz 35, Sarfraz 35, Anwar 28 not out; Hasan 2-4, Sameen 2-21, Riaz 2-26, Asif 2-26)

Result: Peshawar Zalmi won by 1 run.

Player-of-the-match: Hasan Ali.

Source: thedailystar