Peshawar Zalmi thrash Quetta Gladiators to clinch PSL crown

Peshawar Zalmi cricketers celebrate after dismissal of Quetta Gladiators batsman Ahmed Shehzad (R) during the final cricket match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi at The Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on March 5, 2017. -AFP

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi beat Quetta Gladiators by 58 runs to win second edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday.

Quetta Gladiators had a terrible start, chasing 149-run target against Peshawar Zalmi. They were all out on just 90 runs.

Earlier, a late-order surge from captain Darren Sammy helped Peshawar Zalmi post 148 runs.

Zalmi kicked off their innings with three solid boundaries by opener Kamran Akmal. The middle order appeared to collapse under pressure halfway through the game.

Congratulations for a thoroughly deserving victory @PeshawarZalmi you played like champions #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #QGvPZ

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

16.3 OUT! Hasan Ali to Zulfiqar Babar
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/Wv3oqEtvVV

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

15.6 OUT! Wahab Riaz to Hasan Khan
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/lVq2Ile9mS

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

The struggle continues for the Gladiators who’re giving away wickets & are unable to get any quick runs! #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #QGvPZ pic.twitter.com/YOU18YjICu

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

14.4 OUT! Chris Jordan to Anwar Ali
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/sgUdDYWnPj

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

12.5 OUT! Mohammad Asghar to Mohammad Nawaz
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/7X9GEL6ij4

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

12.4 OUT! Mohammad Asghar to Sean Ervine
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/VwGNLorKZh

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

Who will take these beauties home? The Champion of #HBLPSL 2017 will be revealed TONIGHT. #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa pic.twitter.com/zFtwPKdAQU

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

The hospitable city of Lahore welcomes #HBLPSL home along with the international stars who have all made it a memorable night! pic.twitter.com/pLeCAyucmw

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

7.2 OUT! Wahab Riaz to Saad Nasim
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/moytUSB4jN

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

5.4 OUT! Muhammad Hafeez to Sarfraz Ahmed
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/AZJ2l8ys8p

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

Gladiators are off to a dreadful start having lost 3 of their top men cheaply for just 20! Zalmi in full control by the end of the 5th over! pic.twitter.com/2sYizFM7Ob

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

4.2 OUT! Hasan Ali to Ahmed Shehzad
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/ywvAl3yHTp

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

3.1 OUT! Mohammad Asghar to Anamul Haque
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/EhNsdBYgn2

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

1.3 OUT! Mohammad Asghar to Morne van Wyk
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/9qTR3F799A

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

Gladiators restrict Zalmi to 148 for 6, can the batsmen respond and win it for the Quetta side? #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #QGvPZ pic.twitter.com/JUeAiERiHK

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

19.3 SIX! Anwar Ali to Darren Sammy
watch https://t.co/srVEOfCLuT#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/TFO8SYfdNl

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

19.2 SIX! Anwar Ali to Darren Sammy
watch https://t.co/srVEOfCLuT#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/YEenUc5F07

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

18.6 SIX! Rayad Emrit to Darren Sammy
watch https://t.co/srVEOfCLuT#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/CPv3hXGJEk

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

16.4 OUT! Rayad Emrit to Iftikhar Ahmed
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/viXm3TOY3C

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

16.3 OUT! Rayad Emrit to Muhammad Hafeez
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/F52MMa6pfO

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

The Gladiators have somewhat gained control over this having dismissed 4 of the Zalmi batsmen for just 104! #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #QGvPZ pic.twitter.com/dzjMJn1j2x

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

11.4 OUT! Hasan Khan to Khushdil Shah
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/u1RynJNBaY

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

.@TeamQuetta blowers have broken the momentum but more @PeshawarZalmi hard-hitters await the field! #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #QGvPZ pic.twitter.com/VEojC7rVOK

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

10.1 OUT! Mohammad Nawaz to Marlon Samuels
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/Y3YX0TzfYv

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

9.6 OUT! Hasan Khan to Kamran Akmal
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/cgkF6NyWAR

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

9.4 SIX! Hasan Khan to Marlon Samuels
watch https://t.co/srVEOfCLuT#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/YGI4Rvj00U

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

9.1 SIX! Hasan Khan to Kamran Akmal
watch https://t.co/srVEOfCLuT#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/mJR8sASdPX

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

At the end of the 5th over, the Gladiators struck & claimed Malan’s wicket. Zalmi still going strong on 46/1 #HBLPSL #QGvPZ #AbKhelJamayGa pic.twitter.com/o7h2EK3fuw

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

4.4 OUT! Rayad Emrit to Dawid Malan
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa pic.twitter.com/iPmMfYGXZk

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

1.3 SIX! Anwar Ali to Dawid Malan
watch https://t.co/srVEOfCLuT#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa pic.twitter.com/Z0mNAiGHY3

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

Playing XI of @TeamQuetta: Ahmed, M van Wyk, Anamul Haque, Ervine, Saad, Sarfraz (w/c), Nawaz, Anwar, Zulfiqar, Rayad, Hassan #HBLPSL

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

Playing XI of @PeshawarZalmi: K Akmal(w), Malan, Samuels, Hafeez, Khushdil, Iftikhar, Sammy(c), Jordan, Hasan, Wahab, Asghar #QGvPZ #HBLPSL

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

Quetta have won the final toss & will bowl first & their lineup has multiple changes while the Zalmi has one change! #HBLPSL #QGvPZ

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

.@PeshawarZalmi supporters giving their love and support to their superstars. The roar of the Gaddafi Stadium crowd #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa pic.twitter.com/1FhO6XbZ70

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

.@TeamQuetta receiving great love and support from the packed Gaddafi Stadium. What a sight!#HBLPSL#AbKhelJamayGapic.twitter.com/MhK54CDAxf

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017

The much-awaited final of PSL began at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore after Quetta Gladiators won the toss and opted to bowl first against Peshawar Zalmi.

Gladiators skipper Sarfraz Ahmed says: “We choose to bowl. There is some pressure obviosuly but hopefully we play some good cricket. We have lost four good foreign players but we have others coming in Morne van Wyk, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Sean Ervive, Rayad Emrit are Quetta’s foreign players. Elton Chigumbura misses out.”

Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy says: “It looks like a good wicket. Last game we lost the toss and scored 180. The atmosphere is great and hopefully Peshawar comes out victorious. My good friend Lala said: ‘If we get to the final you should come to Lahore for the final’. Hopefully we can entertain and cricket will be the winner. We have an enforced change with Afridi getting injured. Iftikhar Ahmed replaces Afridi.”

Ahmed Shehzad says: “If Peshawar wins, Quetta wins, it’s a win-win situation for Pakistan.”

Earlier, the closing ceremony of PSL’s second edition held at the Stadium. Actors Ahmed Ali Butt and Ayesha Omer hosted the show.

Singers Ali Zafar, Fakhir Mehmood, Ali Azmat and Overload band enthralled audience with their performances.

The ceremony concluded with PSL Chairman Najam Sethi’s brief speech.

He said: Pakistanis and peaceful people and they know how to host cricket event.

“Today there are people here from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Karachi, Quetta ─ from every part of Pakistan. This is a show of solidarity. The whole world should see we are together. We will not bow our heads before anyone. We can do anything,” Sethi said.

He thanked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and local administration for making the dream of hosting PSL final come true.