Gladiators Dominate Zalmi in PSL Opener

Quetta Gladiators started their Pakistan Super League campaign with a victory. Overall they completely crushed Peshawar Zalmi and went on to make a score of 216 runs with a loss of only 3 wickets. The final took place at the National Stadium, Karachi. The Gladiators countered with a tremendous batting effort to post a formidable target for their opponents.

The Gladiators started their innings with an aggressive opening stand. Finn Allen and Saud Shakeel were the two principal contributors to the team’s massive total. Allen, a New Zealand native, opened the game in record-setting fashion. He belted 53 runs in only 25 balls including five fours and four sixes. His counter attacking batting style inspired the Gladiators to a record breaking 88 runs victory. They had lost only one wicket by the end of the seventh over.

Shakeel continued to build the momentum, completing the victory with an unbeaten 59 from just 42 deliveries. He was finally dismissed by Babar Azam off Ali Raza’s bowling in the 16th over. Just after Shakeel’s dismissal, Hasan Nawaz made the most of the opportunity and scored 41 runs in just 32 deliveries. He wouldn’t last long either, snaffled himself just four balls after Shakeel’s dismissal.

Rilee Rossouw and Kusal Mendis provided explosive cameos to close out the innings. As a pair, they formed an unbroken partnership of 58 runs. Rossouw’s impact was immediate with a 21 off 10 balls. His batting was instrumental in pushing the Gladiators total to an All-Time record of 216-3 through their 20 overs.

Abrar Ahmed was the bowling star for Quetta, claiming 4 wickets for only 42 runs. His exceptional bowling spell ripped through Peshawar’s batting order, leaving them unable to keep up with the required run rate.

In reply, Peshawar Zalmi succumbed to the scoreboard pressure and crumbled to a mere 136 all-out in the 16th over. It is there in the paranoia that the top order was unable to lay a solid foundation. Unfortunately, this failure led to a 21-point sounding loss, illustrating the chasm between the two teams.