Saud Shakeel and Jason Roy's batting brilliance powered Quetta Gladiators to a 16-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi in the second match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Sunday.
Despite setting a challenging target of 207 runs in 20 overs, Peshawar Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, fell short as Quetta’s bowlers displayed a commendable performance in the crucial death overs, securing a hard-fought triumph.
Quetta Gladiators' batting fireworks paved the way for their victory, with a formidable partnership between Jason Roy and Saud Shakil. The opening pair accumulated 157 runs for the first wicket in just 14.4 overs. Roy contributed significantly with a blistering 75 off 48 balls, featuring nine fours and three sixes, while Saud added 74 off 47 balls, showcasing eight fours and three sixes.
Despite a commanding start, Peshawar Zalmi's bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, managing to take only five wickets in the last five overs. Captain Rilee Rossouw fell victim to Muhammad Zeeshan, bowling for 14 off seven balls, and Sherfane Rutherford was caught by Dan Mousely off Salman Irshad for 20 off 10 balls.
Salman Irshad emerged as the most successful bowler for Zalmi, claiming three wickets for 38 runs in his four overs. Luke Wood and Zeeshan secured one wicket each but proved to be expensive. Aamer Jamal, on the other hand, conceded 29 runs in two overs without managing to secure any wickets. In the end, the Quetta Gladiators' collective efforts secured their victory in this high-octane clash.
