Being one of the most awaited rivalries of PSL, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators faced each other in the 4th match of HBL PSL 2020. Zalmi won the toss and elected to bowl first. Quetta’s opener Jason Roy was the only Gladiator to get to his fifty as he succeeded to remain not-out with 73 runs off 57 balls. However, their big gun Shane Watson once again failed to perform as per expectations since he was sent back to pavillion at mere 8 runs.
M. Amir Khan, the emerging player of Zalmi, got Ahmed Shehzad’s crucial wicket right when the Quetta fans expected a decent innings by Shehzad. Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed took some responsibility and tried to support Roy at the other end, by scoring some quick runs but he also could not stay on crease for long. He was dismissed by Zalmi captain Daren Sammy, thus his 41-run innings came to an end. Sarfaraz’s 41 runs included 5 fours and 1 six.
Azam Khan disappointed the fans too and was dimissed early by Wahab Riaz. At the end of their 20 overs, Gladiators were able to put up a target of mere 149 runs-courtesy, Zalmi’s bowling attack. Wahab stood as the most economic bowler with a 5.25 economy rate. While Rahat, Amir Khan and captain Sammy bagged one wicket each.
Zalmis had a boosting start as Kamran Akmal thrashed the Quetta bowlers in the powerplay and scored his fifty off just 20 balls. That fifty converted into his third PSL century off 54 balls, leading his team to their first victory of PSL 2020.
Kamran Akmal declared Man of the Match who hit 13 fours and 4 sixes in his 101-run innings.