LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi drubbed Quetta Gladiators by 58 runs in the much exciting final match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017.
All Quetta Gladiators players were shown exit on 90 runs off 16.3 overs. They entered the final game with comparatively weaker batting side as their regular foreign players did not turn up for the final in Lahore.
Except Quetta Gladiators skipper Sarfraz Ahmed 22 (11), Anwar Ali 20 (24) and Sean Ervine 24 (19), no gladiator could reach a double figure score and their wickets kept falling apart till the end.
Peshawar Zalmi gave Quetta Gladiators a target of 149 to chase. They had a blazing start with the blade to tally 52 runs.
Wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal and skipper Darren Sammy’s quickfire battings helped Peshawar Zalmi accumulate a steady score of 148 runs.
Kamran Akmal scored 40 runs with the help of seven boundaries from 32 balls. While Peshawar Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy bludgeoned four boundaries to score 28 (11).
Mohammad Asghar was the most economical bowler for Zalmi. He took three wickets conceding 16 runs from six overs.
Earlier, Quetta Gladiators won the toss and opt to bowl first against Peshwar Zalmi in the grand finale.
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
Kamran Akmal received Player of the Tournament award. Sammy was given Man of the Match award for the final.
Sarfraz Ahme said: “We really did badly with the bat. We succumbed to pressure. Fall of first five wickets was the turning point. It was a chase-able total.”
Sarfraz Ahmed acknowledged there was some pressure for sure (without the big guns).
Darren Sammy gave credit to Shahid Afridi for motivating him to play in Lahore.
The regular overseas players of Gladiators could not come to Lahore for the final match of PSL second edition. Hence, Sarfraz Ahmed-led team picked Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper batsman Anamul Haque, Zimbabwe’s duo of talented all-rounder Sean Ervine and hard hitting Elton Chigumbura, South Africa’s Morne Van Wyk and West Indian pacer Rayad Emrit for the final.
In addition, Aizaz Cheema was picked by Gladiators as a replacement for Umar Gul, who fractured his hand earlier in the tournament.
Darren Sammy had said prior to match: “It looks like a good wicket. Last game we lost the toss and scored 180. The atmosphere is great and hopefully Peshawar come 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.”
Peshwar Zalmi have injured all-rounder Shahid Afridi with Iftikhar Ahmed.
After nine players of Quetta Gladiators were out Shahid Afridi said: “I am not disappointed to be missing the final, my team is winning. I thank for foreign players for coming here and sending out a positive message.”
Quetta Gladiators squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Anamul Haque, MN van Wyk, E Chigumbura, SM Ervine, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt&wk), Anwar Ali, Saad Nasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Khan, Zulfiqar Babar, RR Emrit, Bismillah Khan, Mahmudullah, Umar Amin, NLTC Perera, Aizaz Cheema, Mir Hamza
Peshawar Zalmi squad: Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imran Khan, CJ Jordan, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal (wk), Khushdil Shah, DJ Malan, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Hafeez, EJG Morgan, DJG Sammy (capt), MN Samuels, Shahid Afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, Sohaib Maqsood, Tamim Iqbal, Wahab Riaz
QUETTA GLADIATORS:
Over 17 (90/10): Hasan Ali
Rayad Emrit: 6 (9)
Zulfiqar Babar: 1 (2)
Over 16 (88/9): Wahab Riaz (1-1-1-0-0-wd-wk)
Rayad Emrit: 5 (8)
Hasan Khan: 4(6)
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
Over 15 (83/8): Chris Jordan (0-0-1-wk-1-1)
Anwar Ali: 20 (24)
Rayad Emrit: 4 (7)
Hasan Khan: 1 (1)
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
Over 14 (80/7): Darren Sammy (1-1-1-1-4-0–)
Anwar Ali: 20 (23)
Rayad Emrit: 2 (3)
Over 13 (72/7): Mohammad Asghar (1-1-1-wk-wk-)
Anwar Ali: 14 (19)
Rayad Emrit: 0 (1)
Muhammed Nawaz: 0 (0)
Sean Ervine: 24 (18)
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
Over 12 (69/5): Chris Jordan (1-1-1-4-1-1)
Sean Ervine: 24 (17)
Anwar Ali: 13 (17)
Over 11 (60/5): Mohammad Asghar (1-1-1-1-0-1)
Sean Ervine: 18 (14)
Anwar Ali: 11 (14)
Over 10 (55/5): Wahab Riaz (0-4–1-1-0-1)
Sean Ervine: 16 (12)
Anwar Ali: 8 (10)
Over 9 (48/5): Mohammad Hafeez (2-4-1-1-1-1)
Sean Ervine: 15 (11)
Anwar Ali: 2 (5)
Over 8 (38/5): Wahab Riaz (0-W-1-0-0-0)
Sean Ervine: 7 (7)
Anwar Ali: 0 (3)
Saad Nasim: 4 (6)
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
Over 7 (37/4): Chris Jordan (1-1-1-1-1-1)
Sean Ervine: 6 (6)
Saad Nasim: 4 (4)
Over 6 (31/4): Mohammad Hafeez (1-4-4-W-1-1)
Sarfraz Ahmed: 22 (11)
Sean Ervine: 3 (3)
Saad Nasim: 1 (1)
Over 5 (20/3): Hasan Ali (0-wk-1-0-4-2)
Ahmed Shehzad: 1 (5)
Sarfraz Ahmed: 14 (8)
Sean Ervine: 1 (1)
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
Over 4 (13/2): Mohammad Asghar (wk- 0-0-4-4-0)
Ahmed Shehzad: 1 (3)
Sarfraz Ahmed: 8 (5)
Anamul Haque: 3 (9)
Over 3 (5/1): Hasan Ali (1-1-0-0-0-1)
Ahmed Shehzad: 1 (3)
Anamul Haque: 3 (8)
Over 2 (2/1): Mohammad Asghar (0-0-wk-0-0-1)
Ahmed Shehzad: 0 (2)
Anamul Haque: 1 (3)
MN van Wyk: 1 (7)
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
Over 1 (1/0): Hasan Ali (0-0-0-1-0-0)
Ahmed Shehzad: 0 (2)
MN van Wyk: 1 (4)
PESHAWAR ZALMI: (148/6)
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
Over 20 (148/6): Anwar Ali (1-6-6-1-1-0)
Chris Jordan: 8 (9)
Darren Sammy: 28 (11)
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
Over 19 (133/6): Rayad Emrit (2-4-1-4-1-6)
Chris Jordan: 6 (7)
Darren Sammy: 15 (7)
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
Over 18 (115/6): Mohammad Nawaz (0-1-0-1-1-0)
Chris Jordan: 1 (5)
Darren Sammy: 2 (3)
Over 17 (112/6): Rayad Emrit (1-1-wk-wk-0-0)
Chris Jordan: 0 (2)
Darren Sammy: 0 (0)
Mohammad Hafeez: 12 (13)
Iftikhar Ahmed: 14 (21)
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
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
Over 16 (110/4): Anwar Ali (wd-0-1-1-0-1-wd-wd-1)
Mohammad Hafeez: 11 (11)
Iftikhar Ahmed: 13 (19)
Over 15 (104/4): Zulfiqar Babar (0-1-1-0-1-0)
Mohammad Hafeez: 9 (9)
Iftikhar Ahmed: 11 (15)
Over 14 (101/4): Hasan Khan (1-1-0-4-1-4)
Mohammad Hafeez: 8 (7)
Iftikhar Ahmed: 9 (11)
Over 13 (90/4) : Zulfiqar Babar (1-1-0-0-1-0)
Mohammad Hafeez: 3 (5)
Iftikhar Ahmed: 3 (7)
Over 12 (87/4): Hasan Khan (0-1-0-(wd) wk-0-0-1)
Mohammad Hafeez: 2 (3)
Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 (3)
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
Khushdil Shah: 1 (6)
Over 11 (82/3): Mohammad Nawaz (wk-0-0-0-1-1)
Khushdil Shah: 1 (4)
Mohammad Hafeez: 1 (1)
Marlon Samuels: 19 (17)
Over 10 (82/2): Hasan Khan (6-1-4-6-1-wk)
Kamran Akmal: 40 (32)
Marlon Samuels: 19 (16)
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
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
9.6 OUT! Hasan Khan to Kamran Akmal
watch https://t.co/MJrINH8lBm#QGvPZ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #cricingif pic.twitter.com/cgkF6NyWAR— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017
Over 9 (64/1): Anwar Ali (4-1-1-1-0-0)
Kamran Akmal: 33 (29)
Marlon Samuels: 8(13)
Over 8 (57/1): Mohammad Nawaz (0-0-1-0-1-1)
Kamran Akmal: 27 (26)
Marlon Samuels: 7 (10)
Over 7 (54/1): Hasan Khan (1-0-0-1-0-0)
Kamran Akmal: 25 (22)
Marlon Samuels: 6 (8)
Over 6 (52/1): Zulfiqar Babar (1-0-0-1-4-0)
Kamran Akmal: 24 (19)
Marlon Samuels: 5 (5)
Over 5 (46/1): Rayad Emrit (0-0-1-wk-4-0)
Kamran Akmal: 23 (16)
Marlon Samuels: 4 (2)
Dawid Malan: 17 (12)
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
Over 4 (41/0): Mohammad Nawaz (1-0-4-1-wd-0-0)
Kamran Akmal: 22 (13)
Dawid Malan: 17 (11)
Over 3 (34/0): Rayad Emrit (1-1-0-4-0-0)
Kamran Akmal: 17 (8)
Dawid Malan: 16 (8)
Over 2 (28/0): Anwar Ali (0-2-(wd)-6-2-4-0)
Kamran Akmal: 12 (5)
Dawid Malan: 15 (7)
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
Over 1 (13/0): Zulfiqar Babar (1-0-4-4-0-4)
Kamran Akmal: 12 (5)
Dawid Malan: 1 (1)
Inaugural ceremony for PSL 2017 final
A colorful inaugural ceremony for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 final kicked off with stadium full of cricket fans roaring with slogan of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’(long live Pakistan).
Paragliders landed with Pakistani flag in the Qaddafi Stadium Lahore, which was followed by tribute to martyrs of Pakistan Army and other security forces.
Actress and model Ayesha Umer and actor Ahmed Ali Butt hosted the star-studded event.
Thank you Lahore for such a massive turnout. Indeed Lahore Lahore Ay!!! ❤️ #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa pic.twitter.com/zFHrKOhrJg
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017
Local rockstars forced Lahore groove to the tunes. Singer Ali Zafar presented official song for second edition of PSL. Another famous Pakistani singer Fakhir Mehmood sang a national song. Pop singer Ali Azmat also graced the event with his enthralling voice. Ali Azmat sang several songs and a qawwali ‘Dama Dum Mast Qalandar’.
The cheering and glaring crowd erupted in crackling seeing both the teams, Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi, entering the stadium.
Defying the security threats, the stadium was already packed with spectators way before the match started. Nation is jubilant over cricket’s return to the homeland.
Chairman PSL Najam Sethi was well greeted by the crowed. “Had we not have your support, we were not able to hold this mega event. This is all yours. We will not bow down before any enemy,” said the chairman PSL.
He said Pakistanis were peaceful people and knew how to play cricket and host cricket event.
Sethi thanked the Punjab government and high officials for making this dream of hosting PSL final come true.
Five layers of security were put in place with over 10,000 police and paramilitary force guarding the Qaddafi Stadium and its surroundings.
Nation rejoices as international action lands in Pakistan. Here is how twitterites reacted to the mega cricket event:
Public response to PSL final is how Pakistanis defy adversity AH.Terror will not dictate our way of life..Let the msg be heard loud & clear
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) March 4, 2017
Good luck & best wishes to both cricket teams in the PSL final. Really appreciate the public’s participation. May Allah keep everyone safe.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 5, 2017
Dear Indians!
Watch and be jealous 👊#CricketComesHome ❤#PakistanZindabad 👈— Ahmad Hassan (@ahassan9716) March 5, 2017
Amazing ❤️.#CricketComesHome
— Aiman Manzoor (@007sleeping) March 5, 2017
Wowwww beautiful moments from Qaddafi stadium Lahore..😍👌👍🇵🇰💚💚#HBLPSLFINAL #AbKhelJamayGa #PSLFinal #CricketComesHome #PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/JJX1kSa5kX
— Ayesha👑#TeamZalmi✌ (@ayesha_omarkhan) March 5, 2017
So Guys Are You Ready For #RealMadrid ( Zalmi ) Vs. #Barcelona ( Quetta ) ? #CricketComesHome
— iMubeen (@What_IfISay) March 5, 2017
Let’s together slap in the face of all external and internal enemies of Pakistan – Long Live Pakistan!#PakistanZindabad #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/KJmXgWwZVN
— زین 🇵🇰 (@ZainSohail7862) March 5, 2017
ALLAH bless my country#CricketComesHome
— Usman Ahmad (@_usman_ahmad_) March 5, 2017
Are U watching India#CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/ik1kiRy0Pw
— Ibad khan (@Ibad_khan81) March 5, 2017
Sammy looks so happy! He has provided the most energy pak cricket needed to bring cricket home! #HBLPSL #CricketComesHome
— ⚽⚽⚽ Rahib | Ali ⚽⚽⚽ (@iamRahibNaich) March 5, 2017
Are you Watching india?#PslFinalLahore #CricketComesHome#PSL2017 #CricketComesHome pic.twitter.com/fokr61satt
— Tariq Abbasi (@tariqabbasi123) March 5, 2017
Daren Sammy great entertainer 😀 #champion #CricketComesHome
— Fatima Yousuf (@FatimaYousuf93) March 5, 2017
May the best team win.
May blessings and peace be upon Pakistan.
May all go well.
Ameen#CricketComesHome #PSLFinal2017— SSZZ (@ZehraShafaq) March 5, 2017
Time has arrived for Quetta Gladiators to prove their mettle without big guns #PSL2017 #QGvPZ
— Baseer Ahmed (@journ0Baseer) March 5, 2017
All set to support our team @TeamQuetta #KaiKaiQuetta #HBLPSLFINAL pic.twitter.com/Cf1TrOI31m
— Umar55 (@mdk_gul) March 5, 2017
.@TeamQuetta receiving great love and support from the packed Gaddafi Stadium. What a sight!#HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa pic.twitter.com/MhK54CDAxf
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2017
World witness #CricketComesHome #PeshawarZalmi #ThankYouNawazSharif #PZvQG pic.twitter.com/WvK9iHHnnQ
— ZAK (@ZaadaKhan) March 5, 2017