Peshawar Zalmi survive Quetta all-rounder Anwar Ali's onslaught to scrape home by one run in PSL Eliminator

Waseem Ahmed 23:01 20/03/2018
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  • Hasan Ali picked up two wickets for Peshawar. Image courtesy: @thePSLt20/Twitter

    Peshawar Zalmi defeated Quetta Gladiators by just one run in a tense Eliminator of the Pakistan Super League to inch closer to a spot in the final.

    Quetta all-rounder Anwar Ali launched a daring assault in the final over of the chase with 25 needed for victory. He hit three sixes and a boundary off Liam Dawson to take his team close to victory but he got run-out off the last ball of the match.

    Earlier, Peshawar posted 157 in their 20 overs as PSL returned to its home in Lahore on Tuesday. Dawson top-scored for Peshawar with 62. Left-arm fast bowler Rahat Ali was once again the star for Quetta, picking up 4-16.

    In reply, Peshawar fast bowlers chipped away at Quetta with Hasan Ali (2-21), Sameen Gul (2-21), Wahab Riaz (2-26) and Umaid Asif (2-26) among the wickets.

    Peshawar will now play Karachi Kings in Lahore on Wednesday for the right to play Islamabad United in the final.

    Here we look at talking points from a fantastic match in Lahore.

    DAWSON FIGHTS A LONE BATTLE

    Peshawar needed a strong effort with the bat at the Gaddafi Stadium but Dawson was the only batsman to challenge Quetta bowlers. His 35-ball 62 accounted for nearly half of Peshawar’s runs and added some respectability to the total that had almost stalled at 112-6 in the 16th over.

    HASAN ALI STRIKES EARLY

    Defending 158 can be tricky and fast bowler Hasan Ali used all his experience to get the scalps of Asad Shafiq and Tom Kohler-Cadmore in his first two overs. That put a brake on the scoring rate and tilted the match in Peshwar’s favour.

    ANWAR ALI’S DARING ATTEMPT

    The match looked all but over after Hasan Ali gave away just three runs in the 18th over and Wahab picked up two wickets in the next. That meant Quetta needed 25 off the final over. But Anwar Ali refused to throw in the towel. He hit three balls beyond the fence and one to it as Quetta dared to dream again. But even a dropped chance off the final ball from Dawson wasn’t enough to realise that dream.

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