Match 2, Lahore, February 18, 2024, 02:30 PM
Quetta Gladiators
206/5(20.0ov)
Peshawar Zalmi
190/6(20.0ov)
Quetta Gladiators beat Peshawar Zalmi by 16 runs
Right then, that is it from this game and Rilee Rossouw has won the first T20 game that he has captained and Quetta Gladiators are off to a winning start and so is Shane Watson as a head coach. Next up is a clash between Multan Sultan and Karachi Kings which will be played in Multan and will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but you can simply switch tabs and catch our build-up to that game. Cheers!
Rilee Rossouw, the captain of Quetta Gladiators says that it's tough work to lead and is happy to win the first game under his leadership. Adds that they put up a defendable total and don't think that the wicket changed one bit coming into the second inning. Adds that he is pretty happy with the performance overall as a group. Adds that their death-bowling execution was pretty good. There's always room for improvement but overall he is delighted. He says that Shane Watson has great experience and professionalism is something that they need to buy from him.
Saud Shakeel is the Player of the Match for his wonderful knock up top. Shakeel starts by thanking the almighty and he is happy to have got the opportunity and he is just trusting his game and the process. Adds that sometimes everything happens for a good reason and batting with Jason Roy gives him a bit of cushion as well and he is enjoying his company. Mentions that the whole coaching staff are showing confidence in him and are letting him express himself.
The Presentation ceremony...
Babar Azam, the captain of Peshawar Zalmi starts off by saying that unfortunately due to his mistake, Saim Ayub was run out and it was the turning point in the game. Adds that they had covered it up a bit but his dismissal changed the scenario again. Mentions that when chasing a total as big as this one you need to play with a positive mindset and Saim gave them a great start. Says they gave away 20 runs extra at the beginning and that cost them in the end.
Mohammad Amir is down for a quick chat now. He says that the team looks balanced. Says that they way Saud and Babar batted on a tricky track really paved the way for them to post a high total on the board. Adds that he sticks to the basics and doesn't try to do anything extra. Further says the first win in the first game is always crucial to begin the tournament on a positive note. He says that he had a fantastic time with the Karachi Kings and now he is looking to perform consistently for Quetta.
Peshawar Zalmi will be a tad disappointed in the end given the position they were in and will look to bounce back now. They started off poorly with the ball and simply couldn't pick up a wicket in the first half of the first innings. They had to use two part-time spinners to curtail the flow of runs but eventually, that also proved to be expensive. Salman Irshad was certainly the pick of the bowlers, picking up 3 wickets and bowled well throughout the game. Coming to the chase, skipper Babar Azam and Saim Ayub fired on all cylinders and got their team off to a flier. However, an unfortunate run out saw the back of Ayub and the innings started to dwindle a bit. Babar did play a stellar knock but once he and Tom Kohler-Cadmore got out in the same over, they were under pressure and the middle order couldn't take them over the line.
A humdinger of a game in Lahore but eventually it is Quetta Gladiators who just had enough runs on the board and got wickets at the right time and have won Match number 2 of PSL 2024 in fine fashion. Quetta had the runs on the board thanks to a stellar opening stand between Saud Shakeel and Jason Roy worth 157 runs with both batters getting into the 70s. However, they did lose wickets in the death overs but managed to get over the 200-run mark. With the ball in hand, it was a similar story to their counterparts as the bowlers got hit away in the Powerplay and couldn't get any wickets. Quetta did bowl only five specialist bowlers and soon enough, all of them started to contribute. Abrar Ahmed turned the game on its head with that double blow and from there on, Quetta had things under control.
In over# 20
1
0
2
4
0W
1
Mohammad Wasim 49/1(4)
19.6
1
That's it! Quetta Gladiators manage to defend 206 in style and win by 16 runs. But what an exciting contest this has been overall. Full and around off, Jamal drives it hard to long off for just a single. Quetta Gladiators open their account with a win in their first game of the tournament this year. Peshawar Zalmi will be gutted especially with the way they started off. But they end up on the other side of the aisle with a defeat.
19.5
.
Nails a perfect yorker this time just on off, Aamer Jamal can't do anything and misses to connect.
19.4
2
Wide yorker on off, Aamer Jamal guides it towards deep point for a brace.
19.3
4
FOUR! Jamal starts off with a four! Banged in short in length and on the bodyline, Aamer Jamal swings wildly at it to pull over the leg side but slices it over the keeper's head for a boundary towards deep third man.
Aamer Jamal walks out to bat next.
19.2
W
OUT! TAKEN! Mousley falls and Akeal Hosein takes a fantastic catch in the deep! Fuller and on the pads, Dan Mousley picks it cleanly but lands straight into the hands of Akeal Hosein who is patrolling the deep backward square leg region. Sir Viv Richards too, celebrates the wicket and the dugout seems happy.
19.1
1
Low full toss on stumps, Asif Ali swings hard to long on but just gets a single.
In over# 19
0
1
0
0W
4
1
Mohammad Amir 29/1(4)
18.6
.
A crucial, crucial dot to end the over. What a brilliant penultimate over from Amir considering the conditions. A well-attempted yorker outside off, Dan Mousley looks to reverse sweep it but misses to connect it. 25 needed off the last over now. Excellent execution of death bowling from a quality left armer.
18.5
1
Full in length and on pads, Asif Ali flicks it towards deep backward square leg for just one.