PSL 9: Quetta Gladiators Secures Victory Against Peshawar Zalmi

In their opening match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 at Gaddafi Stadium, Quetta Gladiators secured a sixteen-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi, largely propelled by the outstanding opening partnership of Jason Roy and Saud Shakeel.

Invited to bat first, Quetta Gladiators commenced their PSL 9 campaign impressively with the new opening pair of Jason Roy and Saud Shakeel. Roy initiated proceedings by hitting Luke Wood for a boundary on the first ball, and Shakeel followed suit with another boundary in the first over. Shakeel faced a potential dismissal in the next over when Saim Ayub claimed a low catch at backward point, but the third umpire dismissed the appeal, granting the left-handed batter a reprieve.

Read more: PSL 9: Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators

Gradually building momentum, both batters dominated with regular boundaries, reaching the 100-run mark in ten overs. Roy achieved his half-century in 33 balls with a six over deep midwicket off Dan Mousley, while Shakeel reached the milestone in 36 balls. The partnership flourished, and the duo turned the game around with a 157-run stand.

Wood finally ended the partnership by dismissing Shakeel, who scored a brilliant 74 off 47 deliveries, including ten boundaries and four sixes. Gladiators’ captain Rilee Rossouw joined the fray, hitting a six off the first ball, followed by a boundary, but Mohammad Zeeshan dismissed him in the next over.

Roy, playing a clinical innings of 75 runs from 48 balls, featuring nine boundaries and two sixes, departed in the 18th over bowled by Salman Irshad, with the team’s score at 185. Sherfane Rutherford contributed a quick 20-run cameo before getting out in the last over, followed by Mohammad Wasim, who scored a boundary and fell on the next ball. Khawaja Nafay hit the last ball for four, taking the team’s total to 206 in their allotted 20 overs.

Salman Irshad led the bowling attack for Peshawar Zalmi, securing figures of 3-38, while Wood and Zeeshan contributed with one wicket each.