England batsman Will Smeed scored a terrific 60-ball 99 for Quetta Gladiators against Peshawar Zalmi in a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match that was played on February 15 (Tuesday), in Lahore but his brilliant batting display went in vain as his side had to suffer a 24-run defeat eventually.
Peshawar's batting
Earlier, batting first, Peshawar Zalmi, registered a solid total of 185 runs losing 7 wickets, in 20 overs.
Their opening batter Hazratullah Zazai (1 run off 4 balls) had to depart early after he was dismissed by Naseem Shah in the second over of the match. Later, their wicketkeeper Harris Shah (29 runs 17 balls) along with Pakistan veteran batter Shoaib Malik (58 runs off 41 balls) notched a solid partnership of 52 runs off 31 balls to avert the early danger.
Later, Malik was a part of another key partnership after he along with Hussain Talat scored 73 runs off 47 deliveries. Talat registered a brilliant half century as he scored 51 runs off 33 balls. His innings was comprised of 6 boundaries and a solitary six. Naseem Shah was again the key figure to dismiss Talat and provide a crucial breakthrough.
Later, Ben Cutting scored a quick-fire 36 off just 14 balls to take his side to a defendable total of 185 runs. He smashed 4 sixes and 1 boundary.
Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah was on fire with the ball for Gladiators as picked up four wickets conceding just 27 runs in four overs.
The run chase
In reply, Quetta Gladiators side lost their opener Jason Roy (13 runs off 9 balls) in the third over of the match. But their English opener Will Smeed was on fire as he hit 12 boundaries and three sixes and looked set to notch a century. But Smeed’s heroics came to an end in the 18th over of the innings after he was dismissed by Salman Irshad.
A poor batting order collapse saw, Gladiators lose five wickets within a span of 32 runs as they could ultimately reach a total of 161 runs losing eight wickets, in 20 overs.
For Zalmi, their bowler Usman Qadir scalped three wickets to help his side in registering a 24-run victory.
