Sports Report
QUETTA: Quetta Gladiators beat Peshawar Zalmi by three runs in a thrilling finish in an exhibition match on Sunday in Quetta.
Chasing a total of 185 runs, Mohammad Haris silenced the Quetta crowd by hitting Naseem Shah for several boundaries in the first over.
Skipper Babar Azam also opened his account by hitting Mohammad Hasnain for back-to-back boundaries in the second over of the innings.
Haris continued his aggressive approach as he hit Mohammad Nawaz for a six-over long off.
Mohammad Haris was not stopping as he welcomed Naseem back with hat-trick boundaries. Babar Azam hit Naseem over third for a six to take Peshawar Zalmi to 60 in 5 overs.
Babar Azam was caught behind for 23 on the bowling of Hasnain in the last over of the powerplay. Shahid Afridi came in next over and hit a boundary on his first delivery.
Mohammad Haris continued to accelerate as he took advantage of inexperience Aimal Khan and took 20 runs off his first over. The fast-paced partnership between Afridi and Haris ensured Peshawar Zalmi raced to 109/1 in just 10 overs.
Nawaz returned in the attack to remove Shahid Afridi, who was stumped as he tried to hit Nawaz over his head.
Peshawar Zalmi innings
Mohammad Haris completed his fifty in just 29 balls to keep Peshawar Zalmi’s chase on track. Haris was ably supported by Saim Ayub, who hit a huge six against Nawaz over a fine leg.
Quetta turned to Iftikhar and continued his magic as he dismissed Haris for 53 runs.
Iftikhar Ahmed completed his fifty in 42 balls and hit a huge six over long off on the next ball in the 18 over of the innings.
The in-form batsman left his exceptional for the last over, as he smacked Wahab Riaz for six huge sixes in the final over of the innings to finish at 94 not out from 50 balls.
Quetta Gladiators
Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Ahsan Ali, Umar Akmal, Bismillah Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Aimal Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Umaid Asif, Naseem Shah, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai
Peshawar Zalmi
Babar Azam (c), Haseeb Ullah, Mohammad Haris, Saim Ayub, Azam Khan, Aamir Jamal, Shahid Afridi, Usama Mir, Wahab Riaz, Salman Irshad.
