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In a compelling showdown at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Peshawar Zalmi clinched a decisive victory against Quetta Gladiators on Friday (March 8) night, securing their spot in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 playoffs. This win not only solidified Zalmi's position as the second team to make it to the playoffs but also underscored their unparalleled consistency, being the only team to have qualified for the playoffs in every one of the nine editions of the PSL.
Babar Azam, Saim Ayub continue to sparkle
The match kicked off with Peshawar Zalmi putting on an impressive display of batting prowess after being invited to bat first by the Quetta Gladiators. The opening duo of Babar Azam and Saim Ayub provided a spectacular start, forging a dynamic 46-run partnership off just 22 balls. This explosive beginning set the tone for the innings, despite Mohammad Amir's economical first over.
Saim Ayub, particularly aggressive, took on Sohail Khan in the fourth over with a flurry of shots, including two sixes followed by a four. However, Sohail managed to get his revenge by dismissing Ayub (30 runs off 12 balls) who edged the ball to Abrar Ahmed at short third.
Peshawar dominate proceedings in powerplay
Mohammad Haris then joined forces with Babar, contributing to a fruitful second-wicket partnership of 47 runs off 25 balls. During this phase, Babar (53 runs off 30 balls) aggressively took on Mohammad Hasnain, striking him for three boundaries, propelling Zalmi to 70/1 by the end of the powerplay.
However, the innings saw a moment of setback when Haris (20 runs off 13 balls) was run out by Rilee Rossouw. Haseebullah and Tom Kohler-Cadmore followed, but not before making valuable contributions. Cadmore, in particular, made his presence felt with a quick 33 runs off 19 balls before being caught.
Akeal Hosein shines with a hat-trick
Akeal Hosein's spell in the 16th over was a turning point, as he claimed the first hattrick of PSL 9, disrupting Zalmi's momentum. Despite this, an unbeaten partnership between Rovman Powell and Naveen-ul-Haq propelled Zalmi to a formidable total of 196/8.
Poor batting from Quetta Gladiators
Quetta Gladiators' chase began on a promising note with Saud Shakeel and Jason Roy matching Zalmi's opening stand. However, Peshawar's bowlers, particularly Mehran who was introduced during the powerplay, initiated a collapse that Quetta couldn't recover from.
The double-wicket over by Saim further compounded Quetta's troubles, leaving them reeling at 56/2.
Despite brief resistance from Laurie Evans and Omair bin Yousuf, Quetta's innings never gained the momentum needed to chase down the target. Mehran, along with Khurram Shahzad, played pivotal roles in dismantling the Gladiators' batting lineup, eventually bowling them out for 120.
Peshawar Zalmi's bowlers showcased a well-rounded performance with Mehran, Khurram, Saim, and Wood each taking crucial wickets, highlighting the team's balanced attack and strategic acumen.
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