PSL T20 1st Qualifying Final: Gladiators beat Afridi's Zalmi in thriller to enter final

Quetta Gladiators are ecstatic after toppling favourites Peshawar Zalmi to book their berth in the final of the inaugural Pakistan Super League in a nerve-tingling finish at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.

A sell-out crowd got their monies worth as Gladiators rose to the occasion by defending a modest total of 133.

Zalmi were on course despite losing wickets at regular intervals but Sammy virtually threw it away when it became 113-7 in 18 overs after slamming a scintillating 38 which was laced with five boundaries and a six.

Riaz kept alive their hopes but Cheema bowled an excellent final over to seal victory for Gladiators.

Cheema finished with two for 34 while Nawaz and Elliott claimed three wickets apiece to peg back Zalmi.

With three needed off the final ball, Ashgar manages only a single and Gladiators have won by one run.

Earlier, Quetta Gladiators put into bat rode on a fine third wicket partnership of 90 between Pietersen (53) and Sangakkara (37) to make 133.

Riaz claimed three for 17 and Tait two for 23.

Peshawar innings

Cheema is on a hat-trick as Shehzad hangs onto a skier from Riaz. Zalmi 131-9, 19.5 overs.

Wahab Riaz c Ahmed Shehzad b Aizaz Cheema 22 (16b 3x4)

Cheema catches a skier from Hasan off his own bowling. Zalmi 131-8, 19.4 overs.

Hasan Ali c & b Aizaz Cheema 5 (3b 1x4)

Needing 8 off 6, Riaz whacks a full toss from Cheema to long on for a boundary.

Anwar Ali strays on the leg and Riaz obliges by whipping to midwicket for a crucial boundary. Zalmi 126-7, 19 overs.

Nawaz claims his third wicket (3-27) and the most important one as Sammy tries to go big again only to hole it out. Zalmi 113-7, 18 overs.

Darren Sammy c McCullum b Nawaz 38 (29b 5x4 1x6)

Sammy closes the gap by launching Nazwaz into the Dubai skyline with a gigantic hit followed by a boundary to long-on.

Riaz ends a tough over by squeezing Anwar Ali past the keeper for a boundary. Zalmi 99-6, 17 overs.

Afridi perishes attempting to hit Elliott over extra cover but holing to to Nawaz. Zalmi 84-6, 15 overs.

Shahid Afridi c Mohammad Nawaz b Elliott 2 (4b)

Sammy steps up the tempo by belting a couple of boundaries off Cheema. Zalmi 78-5, 14 overs.

Babar takes a good catch midwicket as Yousuf attempts to swing Elliott out of the ground, Zalmi 62-5, 12.1 overs.

Shahid Yousuf c Zulfiqar Babar b Elliott 15 (21b 2x4)

Yousuf sweeps Babar powerully to midwicket for a boundary. Zalmi 62-4, 12 overs.

Bairstow gets a boundary off a leading edge to third man off Elliott who knocks him over next ball. Zalm 57-4, 10.3 overs.

Jonny Bairstow b Elliott 15 (16b 1x4)

Yousuf dances down the track and lofts Nawaz back over his head for a maximum. Zalmi 53-3, 10 overs.

Bairstow denies left-arm spinner Nawaz a hat-trick during a sensational over. Zalmi 32-3, 6 overs.

Hawaz is on a hat-trick and turning the match on its head by spinning out Hodge for a golden duck. Zalmi 31-3, 5.2 overs.

Brad Hodge b Mohammad Nawaz 0 (1b)

Nawaz strikes with his first delivery getting the big wicket of Hafeez beaten by a ball which skidded on and knocked his off stump. Zalmi 31-2, 5.1 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez b Mohammad Nawaz 15 (18b 2x4)

Anwar Ali lights up the bails as Kamran attempts to cut only to see his stumps castled. Zalmi 29-1, 4.3 overs.

Kamran Akmal b Anwar Ali 9 (13b 2x4)

Kamran reaches out to Babar and sweeps him against the spin for a boundary to long-on. Zalmi 29-0, 4 overs.

Hafeez gets into his stride by slamming two consecutive boundaries off an erratic Cheema. Zalmi 23-0, 3 overs.

Kamran drills Babar through point for the first boundary of the innings as Zalmi begin chasing 134.

Quetta innings

Peshawar Zalmi have won half the battle after restricting Quetta Gladiators for 133.

Afridi's Zalmi clawed their way back after a fine third wicket partnership of 90 between Pietersen (53) and Sangakkara (37).

Riaz claimed three for 17 and Tait two for 23.

Gladiators are all out for 133 in 19.3 overs.

Anwar Ali c Sammy b Wahab Riaz 1 (5b)

A mix-up results in Babar being run out. Glads 133-9, 19.2 overs.

Zulfiqar Babar run out 0 (1b)

Riaz gets another one as Elliott departs. Glads 133-8, 19.1 overs.

Grant Elliott c Tait b Wahab Riaz 5 (9b)

McCullum pulls Wahab straight to the fielder in the deep. Glads 126-7, 18 overs.

Nathan McCullum c Mohammad Hafeez b Wahab Riaz 1 (4b)

Tait strikes again as a frustrated Nawaz is undone by pace slicing to third man. Glads 122-6, 16.5 overs.

Mohammad Nawaz c Wahab Riaz b Tait 20 (18b 1x4 2x6)

Nawaz finally middles Hasan Ali after three dot balls by sending him sailing over the ropes at midwicket. Glads 119-5, 16 overs.

Nawaz uses Tait's pace to steer to third man for a boundary and survives after Hasan Ali drops a catch which pops out after he hit the ground. Glads 111-5, 15 overs.

Tait has struck a massive blow as Pietersen miscues to long-on.Glads 106-5, 14.1 overs.

Kevin Pietersen c Hasan Ali b Tait 53 (38b 5x4 2x6)

Nawaz has hoisted Riaz for a massive six into the stands at midwicket. Glads 106-4, 14 overs.

Afridi strikes as Sarfraz is out for a duck lobbing a return catch. Glads 95-4, 12.4 overs.

Sarfraz Ahmed c & b Shahid Afridi 0 (2b)

Pietersen slams Afridi over extra cover for a boundary before completing a 34-ball 50.

Bairstow takes a superb catch on the boundary to get rid of Sangakkara. Glads 90-3, 12 overs.

Kumar Sangakkara c Bairstow b Sammy 37 (29b 6x4)

Pietersen is on fire picking up a short ball from Sammy for the first maximum over midwicket followed by another towering straight six. 

Sangakkara is on song slapping Afridi over extra cover and then sweeping to backward square leg for consecutive boundaries. Glads 73-2, 11 overs.

The 50 partnership between Pietersen and Sangakkara has come in 38 balls. Glads 63-2, 10 overs.

Sangakkara plays a sizzling cut shot off Sammy to fetch another boundary. Glads 53-2, 8 overs.

Pietersen continues the momentum by cutting Afirid past point for a boundary. Glads 45-2, 7 overs.

Sangakkara welcomes Tait with an exquisite square drive for a boundary followed by a couple more on either side of the wicket. Glads 35-2, 6 overs.

Pietersen is in good nick getting inside the line of a Riaz delivery and pulling to backward square leg for a boundary. Glads 23-2, 5 overs.

Pietersen continues unfazed sweeping Asghar over square leg for a boundary. Glads 17-2, 4 overs.

Asghar strikes as Shehzad gets a rush of blood is stumped by a mile. Glads 11-2, 3.1 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad st Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Asghar 6 (9b 1x4)

Shehzad pulls Ali to midwicket for a boundary. Glads 11-1, 3 overs.

Pietersen gets going by lofting Asghar to long-on for a boundary. Glads 6-1, 2 overs.

Sensational start for Zalmi as Hasan Ali has struck with the second ball as Bismillah perishes with his pull shot going miles in the sky for Bairstow to pouch it. Glads 01-. 0.2 overs.

Bismillah Khan c Bairstow b Hasan Ali 0 (2b)

Peshawar Zalmi skipper Shahid Afridi has won the toss yet again and opted to bowl in the 1st Qualifying Final of PSL against Quetta Gladiators at Dubai International Stadium on Friday.

.@PeshawarZalmi won the toss and elected to field! Lineups! #PZvQG pic.twitter.com/4RVOeyVdxS

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 19, 2016

Peshawar Zalmi: Aamer Yamin, Abdur Rehman, J Allenby, Hasan Ali, BJ Hodge, Imran Khan (1), Israrullah, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal, DJ Malan, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Hafeez, Musadiq Ahmed, DJG Sammy, Shahid Afridi, Shahid Yousuf, Tamim Iqbal, Wahab Riaz

Quetta Gladiators: Ahmed Shehzad, Aizaz Cheema, Akbar-ur-Rehman, Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Bilal Asif, Bismillah Khan, GD Elliott, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Nawaz (3), KP Pietersen, Rameez Raja (2), Saad Nasim, KC Sangakkara, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, LJ Wright, Zulfiqar Babar

 

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