Faheem Ashraf’s five-for powers Gladiators to big win over Zalmi

Faheem Ashraf bowled splendidly to shepherd Quetta Gladiators to their third win from five matches when they demolished Peshawar Zalmi by 64 runs in their crucial clash of the HBL PSL X at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday night.

Mark Chapman made 33 while Saud Shakeel and Kusal Mendis chipped in with valuable 32s each as Quetta Gladiators posted 178-7.

Faheem Ashraf (5-33) then did a solid job with the ball to dismiss Zalmi for 114.

This is also Zalmi’s lowest total in their PSL history, beating their previous low of 123, scored against Multan Sultans at Multan on February 26, 2020.

The victory lifted Gladiators to third place with six points from five matches, while the loss left Zalmi struggling with four points from six matches.

In the next match on Tuesday at the same venue, Multan Sultans will face Quetta Gladiators.

Set a tricky target, Zalmi had a disastrous start. Faheem Ashraf removed Saim Ayub (5) in the second over. This was the fourth successive failure for Saim after scoring a fifty in his first match.

In the next over, Mohammad Amir struck a major blow when he dismissed Babar Azam (12) with a delivery that nipped in. Babar reviewed the decision but it was upheld.

Babar struck one six and one four from seven balls. Mohammad Wasim Junior, introduced in the fifth over, then bowled Tom Kohler-Cadmore (5) to leave Zalmi gasping at 33-3.

Faheem Ashraf was brought back in the eighth over and took the prized scalps of Mohammad Haris (17) and Abdul Samad (2) in one over to tighten the noose. Zalmi were 50-5 in the eighth over.

Zalmi kept losing wickets. Khurram Shahzad then took the wickets of Australian Mitchell Owen (15) and Alzarri Joseph (0) off successive deliveries, putting his side very close to victory.

Hussain Talat, who was batting well, was undone by spinner Abrar Ahmed for a 34-ball 39, putting Gladiators just one wicket away from sealing the win.

Talat smashed two sixes and four fours in his solid resistance.

Faheem then got the last man, Sufyan Muqeem (4), to fold Zalmi in 15.2 overs.

Faheem was ably backed by Khurram Shahzad (2-9).

After being put into bat first by Babar Azam, who won a vital toss, Finn Allen sizzled with a rapid 16-ball 31 with four fours and two sixes. He, along with skipper Saud Shakeel, provided a solid platform as Gladiators reached 67-1 in the powerplay.

However, they failed to capitalize on the solid start.

Credit goes to Zalmi’s spinners, Saim Ayub and Sufyan Muqeem, who bowled tight middle overs. The duo conceded a combined 57 runs in eight overs and did a huge job in the process.

On a track with some bounce, Finn Allen and Saud Shakeel started cautiously but later attacked Zalmi's bowlers. Allen, especially, was fantastic in his approach. He added 46 runs off 27 balls for the opening stand with Saud before falling to Alzarri Joseph, caught at point by Saim Ayub after jabbing at a rising delivery.

South Africa's left-handed batsman Rilee Rossouw then joined Saud and batted with immense aggression. He struck an 18-ball 27 before being clean bowled by Saim Ayub.

Rossouw also hit young pacer Ali Raza for four fours in the sixth over, which yielded 16 runs.

The Saud-Rossouw second-wicket partnership produced 45 runs off 30 balls.

In his next over, Saim removed Saud, who was caught in the deep by Abdul Samad. Saud smashed five fours in his 26-ball 32, and Gladiators were 105-3 in the 12th over when Saud departed.

Kusal Mendis (32) and Mark Chapman (33) then stitched together 39 valuable runs for the fourth-wicket stand before Alzarri Joseph removed the Sri Lankan to leave Gladiators at 144-4 with three overs remaining.

Mendis hit five fours in his 27-ball knock.

Mark Chapman, batting at No. 5 against his natural position, was bowled by Luke Wood in the final over after hammering three fours in his 26-ball 33.

Gladiators scored just 44 runs in the last five overs.

Joseph was the pick of the bowlers with 3-33, while Saim Ayub claimed 2-24 in his four overs.

Luke Wood finished with 1-35. He was earlier hit by Allen for a six and two fours across his second and third overs, which yielded 17 runs.

Ali Raza, who has gained a reputation for his pace this season, was the most expensive bowler, conceding 48 runs in his four overs.