Lahore, April 27, 2025: Faheem Ashraf (5-33) led Quetta Gladiators to a dominant 64-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi with a stunning five-wicket performance at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday evening. It took him just 20 balls to secure his second T20 five-wicket haul.
Under the leadership of Saud Shakeel, Gladiators have moved up to third on the points table with three wins from five matches, including two consecutive victories on home turf in Lahore.
Quetta’s pace attack put in a clinical performance, finishing with impressive collective figures of 9-81 in 12.2 overs to defend a target of 178 runs after Zalmi opted to bowl first.
Faheem, who holds the record for the second-best bowling performance in HBL PSL (6-19), struck early, dismissing Saim Ayub in the second over. His double breakthrough in the eighth over, sending Mohammad Haris and Abdul Samad back to the pavilion, was key to Zalmi’s collapse as they slumped to 50-5.
Zalmi’s captain Babar Azam was dismissed for just 12 runs off seven balls, including a six and a four, when Mohammad Amir trapped him leg-before in the third over. Mohammad Wasim Jnr. then took the wicket of Tom Kohler-Cadmore in the fifth over to further complicate Zalmi’s chase.
Hussain Talat was the lone fighter for Zalmi, scoring 39 runs off 34 balls with two sixes and four boundaries, but his efforts were in vain as no other batter managed to score more than 20. Khurram Shahzad, with figures of 3-1-9-2, dismissed Mitchell Owen and Alzarri Joseph as Zalmi’s batting lineup crumbled to 81-7.
The final three wickets added 29 runs before Faheem sealed the innings by removing Luke Wood and Sufyan Moqim in the 12th and 16th overs. Abrar Ahmed claimed one wicket in his three overs.
Earlier, all top-five Quetta batters reached double figures, with valuable contributions from each. No. 3 batter Rilee Rossouw made 27 off 18 balls, including five fours. Openers Saud Shakeel (32, 26b, 5x4s) and Finn Allen (31, 16b, 4x4s, 2x6s) put together a quick 46-run partnership off 27 balls, with Allen being the more aggressive of the two.
Saud and Rossouw shared a 45-run stand to push the total to 91-2 in 9.3 overs. Kusal Mendis (32, 27b, 5x4s) and Mark Chapman (33, 26b, 3x4s) steadied the innings with a 34-ball 29-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but Mendis fell with the score at 144-4 in the 17th over.
Quetta added 34 runs in the final three overs to post a competitive total of 178-7 in their 20 overs. Zalmi’s best bowler was Alzarri Joseph, who claimed three wickets for 33 runs in four overs. Saim Ayub also impressed, taking two wickets for 24 runs.
Peshawar Zalmi now sits in fifth place on the points table with just two wins from six games. A rest day is scheduled for Monday, April 28 in HBL PSL X.
Match 17 Summary:
Quetta Gladiators beat Peshawar Zalmi by 64 runs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Quetta Gladiators 178-7, 20 overs (Mark Chapman 33, Saud Shakeel 32, Kusal Mendis 32, Finn Allen 31, Rilee Rossouw 27; Alzarri Joseph 3-33, Saim Ayub 2-24)
Peshawar Zalmi 114 all out, 15.2 overs (Hussain Talat 39; Faheem Ashraf 5-33, Khurram Shahzad 2-9)
Player of the Match: Faheem Ashraf (Quetta Gladiators)
Tuesday’s Fixture:
Quetta Gladiators vs Multan Sultans at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; 8:00 PM PKT
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