Faheem Ashraf’s Brilliant Five-Wicket Haul Powers Gladiators to Dominant Win Over Zalmi

LAHORE: A collective batting display, backed by a brilliant five-wicket haul from Faheem Ashraf, steered Quetta Gladiators to a commanding 64-run triumph over Peshawar Zalmi in the 17th fixture of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Tasked with chasing 179, Zalmi’s batting lineup crumbled for a modest 114 in just 15.2 overs.

Middle-order batter Hussain Talat offered some resistance with a gritty 34-ball 39, which featured four boundaries and two sixes, before falling to Abrar Ahmed in the 15th over.

Apart from Talat, only captain Babar Azam (12), Mohammad Haris (17), and Mitchell Owen (15) managed to reach double figures, highlighting Zalmi’s struggles against Gladiators’ potent pace attack.

Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the bowlers, claiming an impressive 5-33 from 3.2 overs. Khurram Shahzad bagged two wickets, while Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Wasim shared one wicket apiece.

Earlier, Quetta Gladiators began their innings strongly, with openers Finn Allen and Saud Shakeel putting on a brisk 46-run stand.

Allen, the aggressor of the duo, was the first to fall, caught off Alzarri Joseph’s bowling on the third ball of the fifth over. He smashed 31 off just 16 deliveries, hitting four fours and two sixes.

Shakeel then combined with Rilee Rossouw for a crucial 45-run partnership for the second wicket, before Saim Ayub struck twice in quick succession, removing both set batters and reducing Gladiators to 105/3 in 11.2 overs.

Shakeel hit five boundaries during his 26-ball 32, while Rossouw contributed a fluent 27 off 18 deliveries.

After the double blow, Kusal Mendis and Mark Chapman steadied the innings, stitching together a valuable 39-run stand for the fourth wicket. Mendis was dismissed for 32 off 27 balls, including five boundaries, caught behind off Joseph in the 17th over.

Chapman top-scored for Gladiators with a composed 33 off 26 balls, featuring three boundaries, before falling to Luke Wood in the final over.

For Zalmi, Alzarri Joseph shone with the ball, picking up three wickets for 33 runs in his four overs. Saim Ayub grabbed two scalps, while Luke Wood chipped in with one.