Quetta Gladiators produced a clinical all-round performance to crush Peshawar Zalmi by 80 runs in a one-sided affair at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday afternoon, notching up their first win of the season in emphatic style.
Asked to bat first, Quetta’s innings was launched in thrilling fashion by Saud Shakeel (59 off 42) and Finn Allen (53 off 25), who stitched together a rapid 88-run opening stand in just over seven overs. Allen, in particular, was electric — plundering 22 runs in a single over off Sufyan Moqim — before falling on the last ball of that over.
With solid contributions from Hasan Nawaz (41 off 32) and a blistering finish provided by Kusal Mendis (35 off 14)* and *Rilee Rossouw (21 off 10)**, the Gladiators piled on an imposing 216 for five — the highest total of the tournament so far.
Zalmi’s chase unravelled almost immediately. Mohammad Amir removed Babar Azam in the first over, before Abrar Ahmed’s mystery spin left the middle order in tatters. The leg-spinner picked up four wickets for 42, including Mohammad Haris, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Max Bryant, to effectively derail Zalmi’s hopes of a comeback.
Although Saim Ayub showed some resistance with a spirited 50 on return, and Hussain Talat briefly counter-attacked with 35 off 19, the Gladiators kept striking at regular intervals. Usman Tariq also impressed with two scalps, including a double-strike in one over.
Zalmi’s innings folded for 136 in 15.1 overs, handing Quetta a dominant 80-run win — a massive net run-rate boost early in the season.
Scores in brief:
Match 2 – Quetta Gladiators beat Peshawar Zalmi by 80 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Quetta Gladiators: 216-5 in 20 overs (Saud Shakeel 59, Finn Allen 53, Kusal Mendis 35*, Rilee Rossouw 21*; Ali Raza 1-31, Sufyan Moqim 1-39)
Peshawar Zalmi: 136 all out in 15.1 overs (Saim Ayub 50, Hussain Talat 35; Abrar Ahmed 4-42, Mohammad Amir 2-11, Usman Tariq 2-26)
Player of the Match: Abrar Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators)
Next Fixture: Sunday – Quetta Gladiators vs Lahore Qalandars at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; 8:00 PM PKT
Leave a Reply