Rawalpindi, April 12, 2025: Quetta Gladiators launched their PSL 10 campaign in stunning fashion with a commanding 80-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Set a mammoth target of 217, Zalmi crumbled under scoreboard pressure and were bundled out for 136 in just 13.3 overs. Quetta’s bowlers, led by Abrar Ahmed’s four-wicket haul and Mohammad Amir’s twin strikes, never allowed Peshawar to settle, despite a fighting half-century from Saim Ayub.
Zalmi’s chase got off to a disastrous start as captain Babar Azam was dismissed for a duck in the opening over, gifting a simple catch off Amir. Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub briefly steadied the innings, but Abrar’s double strike in the fourth over—removing Haris and Tom Kohler-Cadmore—tilted the momentum firmly in Quetta’s favor.
Although Saim Ayub (52 off 30) and Hussain Talat (35 off 19) stitched together a 60-run partnership, Quetta kept chipping away. Usman Tariq dismissed Talat and Max Bryant in quick succession, and Kyle Jamieson removed Ayub to leave Zalmi reeling at 103/6.
From there, the innings unraveled quickly. A sharp run-out by Sean Abbott and further strikes from Abrar Ahmed, who finished with 4/22, ensured no late resistance. Amir cleaned up Mitchell Owen to seal the win and bowl out Zalmi for 136.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Quetta’s openers Finn Allen and captain Saud Shakeel got their team off to a flying start. The pair powered to 67 runs in the powerplay, with Allen taking the attack to Sufiyan Muqeem in the seventh over—hitting 23 runs to reach his maiden PSL fifty on debut.
Though Muqeem bounced back to dismiss Allen for 53 (25), Shakeel anchored the innings with a composed 59 and built a vital 63-run stand with Hasan Nawaz (41 off 32). The finishing fireworks were provided by Rilee Rossouw (21* off 10) and Kusal Mendis (35* off 14), whose explosive unbeaten 58-run stand lifted Quetta to a daunting 216/3.
Despite taking occasional wickets, Zalmi’s bowlers lacked control. Muqeem, Alzarri Joseph, and Ali Raza each picked up a wicket, but failed to contain Quetta’s momentum.
Abrar Ahmed was declared Player of the Match for for picking up 4 wickets.
