Sarfraz shepherds Quetta to impressive win in HBL PSL

DUBAI: Sarfraz Ahmed screamed back into top form as he led from the front, guiding Quetta Gladiators to an important six-wicket victory against defending champions Peshawar Zalmi in the HBL Pakistan Super League here on Saturday night.

Sarfraz, who was yet to really make his presence felt in season 3, hit an unbeaten knock of 45 from 31 balls to take Quetta to the top of the points-table with 10 points. That means the last year’s finalists have almost confirmed their berth in the playoffs.

The win came with four balls to spare but things could have been very different without a 74-run partnership between Sarfraz Ahmed and Rilee Rossouw, who scored an unbeaten 30 from 27 balls.

Peshawar, who desperately needed a win to stay in contention for the playoffs in Lahore, managed to put 157 on board thanks to 49 from Dwayne Smith and a quickfire 36 from captain Darren Sammy.

Quetta tried to stay on top of the asking rate right from the outset, aided by Shane Watson, whose outstanding form has seen him become the top scorer in the tournament. A 25-ball 37 from him sent Quetta on their way, with a cameo from Kevin Pietersen allowing them to keep the required rate in check. However, Peshawar were clawing their way back in with regular wickets, and when Quetta were reduced to 84 for 4, the importance of the Rossouw-Sarfraz partnership appeared impossible to overstate. Both players rose to the occasion with a professional, dispassionate class, managing to keep the runs ticking in the face of magnificent death bowling by Wahab Riaz and Hasan Ali. They took it to the final over, but they never looked like blowing it. The result, however, meant that Lahore Qalandars — like the last two seasons — were out of playoff contention.

Quetta went to the top of the table with 10 points, while Peshawar, with three losses and five wins, are dangerously close to elimination, sitting in fifth place. The result also officially eliminates Lahore Qalandars, who cannot now mathematically finish in the top four. —with inputs from agencies

Quetta Gladiators won toss

Peshawar Zalmi

M Hafeez c Watson b Laughlin 31

†Kamran Akmal b Nawaz 0

D R Smith c Pietersen b Watson 49

M H Wessels not out 31

Khushdil Shah c Hasan b Rahat 4

L A Dawson c Nawaz b Watson 2

*D J G Sammy not out 36

Extras (lb 3, w 1) 4

Total (5 wickets; 20 Overs) 157

Did not bat: Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, M Asghar, Umaid Asif

Fall: 1-5, 2-61, 3-89, 4-95, 5-101

Bowling: Nawaz(3) 4-0-38-1; Anwar 2-0-6-0; Laughlin 4-0-33-1; Hasan 2-0-21-0; Rahat 4-0-30-1; Watson 4-0-26-2

Quetta Gladiators

Asad Shafiq c Hafeez b Hasan 9

S R Watson c Kamran b Umaid 37

K P Pietersen c Kamran b Dawson 21

Rameez Raja(2) c Sammy b Wahab 9

R R Rossouw not out 30

*†Sarfraz Ahmed not out 45

Extras (b 4, lb 2, w 1) 7

Total (4 wickets; 19.2 Overs) 158

Did not bat: M Nawaz(3), Anwar Ali, Hasan Khan, Rahat Ali, B Laughlin

Fall: 1-30, 2-54, 3-69, 4-84

Bowling: Dawson 4-0-38-1; Umaid 4-0-26-1; Hasan 4-0-25-1; Wahab 4-0-26-1; Asghar 3-0-32-0; Smith 0.2-0-5-0

Result: Quetta Gladiators won by 6 wickets

Man of the Match: Sarfraz Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators)

Umpires: Tim Robinson (England) and Ahmed Shahab (Pakistan). TV Umpires: Rashid Riaz (Pakistan). Match Referee: R Mahanama (Sri Lanka)