Peshawar Zalmi
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 PHOTO / AAMIR QURESHI (Photo credit should read AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)

Peshawar Zalmi won their first Pakistan Super League title after they beat Quetta Gladiators in a one-sided final by 58 runs at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Chasing 149, the Gladiators went off to a poor start, making only one run in the first over and losing Morne Van Wyk to a run-out on the third ball of the second over. The batting side never recovered from the poor start and were reeling at 13 for 3 before their skipper Sarfraz Ahmed tried to set the tone for the chase with a quickfire 22.

However, the Quetta-based outfit received a huge setback when their captain was stumped by Kamran Akmal in the sixth over as they were reduced to 29 for 4. Eight runs later, Wahab Riaz sent back Saad Nasim to help his team take control of the proceedings. A 35-run partnership between Sean Ervine and Anwar Ali stopped the rot for a bit but the writing was very much on the wall. Gladiators’ innings eventually ended on 90 as they lost their second final in as many years.

Earlier, the Zalmi began the proceedings in a dominant fashion as in-form opener Kamran Akmal smacked Zulfiqar Babar for three boundaries in the very first over.

Dawid Malan was also looking in a killer mood as he hit Anwar Ali for a four and a six in the very next over. With the openers firing on all cylinders, the Gladiators badly needed a breakthrough in the fifth over when Rayad Emrit castled Malan for 17. Another 40-run stand between Akmal and Marlon Samuels laid the foundation for a big score but the wicketkeeper batsman’s dismissal triggered a mini-collapse that saw the Peshawar based-outfit getting reduced to 86 for 4 from 82 for 1.

The Zalmi were looking destined to waste a good start but Darren Sammy came up with a captain’s knock and scored 28 off only 11 balls to steer his team to a respectable total.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:

https://twitter.com/alisyedawais/status/838449364716699650

https://twitter.com/husnakhwaja2/status/838453243231481857