Dubai. Quetta Gladiators lived up to their tag of being fighters to record a one-run win over Peshawar Zalmi and become the first finalist of the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The contest between the two teams in front of a vociferous sell-out crowd at the Dubai International stadium on Friday night was so exciting that it gave a huge boost to PSL.
This low-scoring thriller which saw Quetta being bowled out for 133 in 19.3 overs only to fight back to restrict Peshawar to 132 for 9 in 20 overs, witnessed many dramatic moments with the match swinging like a pendulum from one team to the other with every over.
Mohammad Akram, coach of the Peshawar team hailed the contest as cricket’s glory. “It was such good competitive cricket that it was the need of the hour for PSL, Pakistan cricket and overall for cricket in general. It is sad we lost, but there are a lot of positives especially the way our youngsters bowled and kept their nerves, they can only get better from here,” he said.
Though the result was a huge disappointment for the large number of Peshawar skipper Shahid Afridi fans, who had turned up in large numbers, they are now hoping that Peshawar will reach the finals by beating the winner of the second qualifying final between Karachi Kings and Islamabad United in the third qualifying final on Sunday and avenge their defeat and lift the trophy on Tuesday.
Cricket was at its best from the moment Peshawar won the toss and asking Quetta, who had won most of their matches by chasing, to bat first. Two of the finest batsmen in the world _ Kevin Pietersen (53) and Kumar Sangakkara (37) through a 79-runs partnership were the main scorers for Quetta.
It was anybody’s game till the last over bowled by Aizaz Cheema who has the reputation of being a final-over specialist. Peshawar needed only eight runs to win, but Cheema took two wickets including that of Wahab Riaz (22), who was threatening to steer the team to victory. Once again the hero of the match was left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz who took three wickets, including that of the dangerous Darren Sammy for 38 and produced one of the finest deliveries of the tournament to clean-bowl Brad Hodge for a duck. He was backed by Grant Elliott who also took three wickets.
“Quetta is a good team. All credit to them for fighting back despite the ball being wet and defending such a total. If we have played a little more sensible cricket, we would have been the winner,” said Akram, who strongly believes that his team can win the tournament.
We will work hard to win it. Twenty20 is anybody’s game. In a couple of overs things can turn around. We have a good enough side. We have played really good cricket and I am happy with the team so far, the way they have fought really hard. They will fight hard again when they come back day after tomorrow (Sunday’s third final).
Brief scores:
Quetta Gladiators 133 in 19.4 overs (Kevin Pietersen 53, Kumar Sangakkara 37, Mohammad Nawaz 20, Wahab Riaz 3 for 17, Shaun Tait 2 for 23) Peshawar Zalmi 132 for 9 in 20 overs (Darren Sammy 38. Wahab Riaz 23, Mohammad Nawaz 3 for 27, Grant Elliott 3 for 19) Man of the match: Mohammad Nawaz.
