Bangladeshi top order batsman Tamim Iqbal's Peshawar Zalmi eliminated Mahudullah Riyad's Quetta Gladiators from this year's Pakistan Super League (PSL) beating them by just one run in a nerve shattering match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore Tuesday night, reports UNB.
Two Bangladeshi cricketers displayed a good performance with Tamim Iqbal making 29-ball 27 runs with five boundaries for Zalmi while Mahmudullah scoring 20-ball 19 runs with three boundaries for Gladiators in addition taking the wicket of Mohammad Hafeez.
Tamim hit two boundaries in the first over after Zalmi were asked to bat first and he lost opening partner Kamran Akmal and one-down Andre Fletcher in the next two overs, Tamim struck three more boundaries before scoring his first single.
He was eventually caught out trying to launch Mohammad Nawaz over long on, leaving Zalmi on 58 for four.
In chase, a pair of 35s from Nawaz and Quetta skipper Sarfraz Ahmed helped them recover from an early damage, but the innings never picked up much momentum as wickets fell regularly, one of them being Mahmudullah's, clean bowled by Umaid Asif. Until the 20th over, Zalmi looked certain winners before Anwar's late assault made things interesting.
Sent into bat first, Peshawar Zalmi scored 157 for all in stipulated 20 overs with Liam Dawson contributing the team highest 62 runs off 35 balls featuring six fours and four sixes, Bangladeshi reliable opening batsman Tamim Iqbal scored 27 runs off 29 balls hitting five boundaries after a shaky start while Mohammad Hafeez scored 25 runs.
Rahat Ali picked up four wickets for 16 runs while NLTC Perera took two for 24 runs.
In reply, Quetta Gladiators folded their innings at 156 runs for 9 playing the last ball of the 20th overs with captain Sarfaraz Ahmed hammering 21-ball 35 runs with three fours and two sixes.
One down Mohammad Newaz scored 32-ball 35 runs with five hits to the fence and one over fence, Anwar Ali made an unbeaten 14-ball 28 runs including one fours and three sixes while Bangladeshi all-rounder Mahmudullah contributed 20-ball 19 runs with three boundaries.
Hasan Ali grabbed two wickets for 21 runs and was adjudged the match of the match.
Besides, Sameen Gul, Wahab Riaz and Umaid Asif took two wickets each conceding 21, 26 and 26 runs respectively.
