Quetta Gladiators kept their hopes of advancing to the playoffs in the 2023 Pakistan Super League (PSL) alive after beating Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi by eight wickets in Match No. 25 at the Pindi Club Ground in Rawalpindi. After the win, the Gladiators sit fifth in the table with six points and a net run rate of -1.120.
Zalmi, meanwhile, continued to fight in the middle of the table with eight points and a net run rate of -0.580. But the Zalmi have a huge advantage in that they have a much better execution rate compared to the Gladiators.
Gladiators defeat Zalmi in PSL 2023 match
After opting to bat first, Zalmi amassed a massive score of 240 for the loss of two wickets. Saim Ayub and Babar Azam laid the foundation with a 162-run partnership for the opening wicket at 13.3 overs.
Ayub swung his bat to score 74 runs off 34 balls with six fours and five sixes before Dwaine Pretorius answered for his wicket. Babar scored his first hundred in the PSL and he hit 115 runs off 65 balls with 15 fours and three sixes.
By the time Babar ran out at the end of Zalmi’s innings, he had already put his team in a commanding position. Rovman Powell batted at No.3 and ran to 35* on 18 balls with three fours and two sixes.
The Gladiators came out firing on all cylinders and chased down the target with 10 balls to spare. They also recorded the third most successful chase in T20 cricket history.
Jason Roy went unbeaten with 145 runs off 63 balls aided by 20 fours and five sixes. Roy also recorded the third-highest singles score in T20 cricket by batting second.