Hasnain shines as Quetta restrict Peshawar to 138 in HBL PSL final

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi are known for their killer punch, especially in crunch Pakistan Super League games. But in the first half of their PSL 4 final against arch-rivals Quetta Gladiators, the 2017 champions were unable to exhibit that quality as they limped their way to a seemingly below-par 138-8 here at the National Stadium on Sunday.

Unable to counter a potent Quetta bowling attack after being put into bat, Peshawar struggled during their entire innings as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Quetta’s young fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain was yet again in full flow as he ripped through Peshawar’s innings picking up 3-30 that included the prized scalp of big-hitting West Indian Kieron Pollard.

Peshawar paid the price for relying too heavily on Kamran Akmal as they never really managed to recover from his fall early in the innings. Peshawar was asked to bat first by Sarfraz on a wicket that did offer some challenge and their start was in stark contrast to the one they made in a big win against Islamabad United in Friday’s Eliminator.

Imam-ul-Haq, who hit a sparkling fifty in Friday’s Eliminator which Peshawar won against Islamabad primarily because of a 135-run opening stand, fell cheaply to Hasnain in the second over. Kamran seemed to have overcome some anxious moment early on as he hit three fours and a six but lost his wicket just when things were beginning to look up for Peshawar. Kamran’s decision to charge at Mohammad Nawaz caused his downfall as he missed the length of the ball and was back in the dugout after making a 15-ball 21. Peshawar could never really recover from his fall.

Sohaib Maqsood, was once again unimpressive despite his run-a-ball 20. Umar Amin did a bit better in his 33-ball 38 but Peshawar knew that their only hopes of putting up a decent total rested on the broad shoulders of the West Indian pair of Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard. Unfortunately for them, the duo didn’t click when it mattered most.

Pollard struggled in his 12-ball 7 while Sammy was also unable to hit the big ones, falling to Dwayne Bravo for 18 from 16 balls.

Quetta’s bowling arsenal was highly impressive. From Sohail Tanvir (0-23 from 4) to their biggest hero of the night Hasnain, all their bowlers stuck to the plan. They didn’t give Peshawar any room. Bravo finished with 2-24 while Nawaz (1-31) and fellow spinner Fawad Ahmed (1-22) were also among the wickets. Both teams fielded unchanged line-ups in the final watched by a packed National Stadium.