Anwar’s last-over heroics in vain as Peshawar eliminate Quetta

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi qualified to play the second qualifier match against Karachi Kings after defeating Quetta Gladiators by one run in a nail-biting thriller on Tuesday.

In a dramatic turn of event, Gladiator’s fast bowler Anwar Ali smashed three sixes and one boundary to alter the 158-run chase to three runs off one ball with only one wicket remaining, but the run-out on the last delivery knocked-out Quetta from the tournament.

Fast bowler Wahab Riaz took the wickets of Thisara Perera and Hassan Khan on the respective scores of 12 and O.

Quetta Gladiators suffered series of a setback in their chase of 158 as Umaid Asif removed both Mahmudullah and Rilee Rossouw within a single over in the first elimination match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2018 at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Quetta Gladiators had a nightmarish start as they lost both openers early, after a gutsy 62 off 35 balls by Liam Dawson lifted Peshawar Zalmi to a competitive total of 157.

Hasan Ali had Asad Shafiq out first ball in the chase.

A pumped-up Hasan Ali removed Tom Kohler-Cadmore in his second over, leaving Quetta looking shaky at 17-2.

Just as a batting collapse looked unavoidable, skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz anchored Quetta’s inning. Their resistance, however, was ended in a dramatic fashion by pacer Sameen, who brought Peshawar back into the game with two wickets in two balls (Sarfraz 35 off 21, Nawaz 35 off 32) in the 10th over.

Just as Quetta appeared to bounce back with Mahmudullah and Rossouw on the crease, Umaid Asif delivered a potentially match-changing over to dismiss both the batsmen within the space of three balls.

Wahab Riaz cleaned up the lower order, taking the crucial wickets of Thisara Perera (12) and Hassan Khan (0) to take Peshawar to the brink of victory.

1st inning: Rahat’s four-for; Dawson’s 62

Peshawar had a wobbly start, losing in-form Kamran Akmal for a three-ball duck to Rahat Ali, after Quetta opted to bowl first in swinging conditions.

West Indian Andre Fletcher was dismissed soon after for 1, by Mir Hamza. But Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Hafeez led Peshawar’s recovery, taking the team past 50 without any further loss before Hafeez was bowled by Mahmudullah for 25 off 14.

Peshawar were sent reeling when Tamim dashed down the pitch, only to be caught by a fumbling Kohler-Cadmore in the deep for 27 off 29.

Perera took the night’s second great catch to send Saad Nasim back to the dugout for 9 off 13, as Peshawar struggled at 86-5.

Dawson’s resistance, however, steadied Peshawar, as he smashed 50 off just 29 balls to end Quetta’s dominance in the game.

Skipper Sammy, who walked out to bat to a standing ovation from the crowd, struggled to score, falling to Rahat Ali for 2 off 5 balls.

Two balls later, Rahat Ali dismissed Dawson, finishing with 4 wickets from 16 runs. Perera took 2 wickets in return for 24 runs.

Mohammad Nawaz, Mir Hamza, Hassan Khan, and Mahmudullah took a wicket each.