Lahore ended up getting an exhibition of T20 cricket. (PSL Twitter Photo)
Liam Dawson was saved the blushes as Anwar Ali is unable to get a hold of the last ball and that the long on fielder was quick to recollect himself and throw the ball back after dropping a catch. 25 runs were needed off that last over and Anwar managed to smash 22 runs off five balls. Peshawar kept it tight in the death overs with Wahab Riaz and Hasan Ali both turning the screws on the Zalmi batsmen. Quetta Gladiators are hence knocked out but Lahore got more than what it wanted as far as world class cricket is concerned.
Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators, Match Highlights:
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What an incredible finish to the game! Anwar Ali dropped at long on but the throw comes back in and the batsmen are unable to finish the second run that would have took the game to a super over. Unbelievable!
4,6,0,6,6 and Anwar has turned the game on its head. Two needed for a super over, three to win the match,
Anwar Ali has taken off his helmet. It is all or nothing now. Liam Dawson is bowling, the first ball is a mishit but it goes for four behind as a limping Darren Sammy is unable to get to it. Sammy clearly in pain now and his staying on the field might not be of much help for his team at the moment.
Quetta facing defeat now, Hasan Khan nicks it to the keeper and Quetta simply don't have the kind of player in the middle who can get more than 20 runs in an over now.
Thisara Perera holes out at long on and Quetta in big trouble now. Wahab Riaz strikes, they now need 26 to win off 8 balls.
That's the equation. It is a modern-day T20 international so 30 needed off 18 wouldn't be seen as too big a problem. But Quetta need to find a way to hold on to their wickets. Peshawar will be raining it in now, Hasan Alo bowling the 17th.
And another! Roussow looks to slash to the off side, never gets hold of it and it goes high up in the air, Hasan Ali remains calm and takes a good catch. Quetta Gladiators 117/6 need 41 from 25.
Just as the pressure started building. Mahmudullah makes room for himself to hit this one back over the bowler's head and misses it completely, The movement beats him and the ball crashes on to the stumps.
Mahmudullah and Roussow have slowly but steadily, ushered Quetta back into the game. It still remains a work in progress but the pressure is back on Peshawar to get a wicket from somewhere.
Mahmudullah and Roussow trying to steady the ship for Quetta after that twin strike. They still have the required run rate and so they are not taking too many risks, understandably.
Rilee Roussow somehow fends off the final ball of the over and Sameen Gul is denied a hat-trick. But what an over this was. The one run that came off it was a wide ball.
First, it was Mohammad Nawaz, who holed out to third man trying to hit it back over the bowler's head. And then the Pakistan skipper goes for a pull and gets a top edge which balloons up and the keeper takes. Sameen Gul on a hat-trick
A good show by Quetta Gladiators in the powerplay overs. They did lose early wickets but made a good comeback to put 49/2 in first 6. Sarfraz's side would look to build on the start they have got.
Hasan Ali has another one and this time it is Tom Kohler-Cadmore who will go back. He tried to slash a length delivery from Ali but only managed to nick it to the wicket-keeper
WICKET! Hasan Ali gets a wicket straight away. Asad Shafiq edges that one and Darren Sammy completes a good catch to send him back for a golden duck
Peshawar Zalmi finish the innings at 157 in 20 overs. Hafeez during the match talked about the total that would be defendable and he suggested that somewhere around 165 will be good. They have fallen short of 8-10 runs as per Hafeez but nevertheless, it's a good fight back after being reduced to 10/2 with big-hitters like Kamran Akmal and Fletcher back in the hut.
WICKET! Rahat Ali has the big wicket of Liam Dawson. It's a soft dismissal as the right-hander gives an easy catch to Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps. He goes for 62
WICKET! Darren Sammy didn't time that pull shot correctly and he will go back in the hut for 2. Rahat Ali has another one under his belt and Peshawar Zalmi are 137/7
Liam Dawson has provided his side the resistance. Peshawar Zalmi haven't been able to execute their plans but thye Englishman has certainly shown good character
So five overs left in the innings, Peshawar Zalmi are 111/5. They need to up the scoring rate to put a fighting total on the board
Hasan Khan strikes and its another one down for Peshawar. A brilliant catch from Thisara Perera. After 13 overs they are struggling at 87/5
After the wickets of Hafeez and Tamim Iqbal, Liam Dawson and Saad Nasim have gone after Mahmudullah. The two smash 16 runs off the 10th over bowled by the Bangladesh man.
WICKET! A huge wicket and it's Tamim Iqbal who will take the long walk back. He came down the track but only managed to give a catch to Tom Kohler-Cadmore at long on. Tamim goes for 27, Peshawar are 58/4
Mahmudullah strikes in his first over. He castles Hafeez for 25. Peshawar Zalmi are in a spot of bother here. The off-spinner came round the wicket and dismantled the off-stump behind Hafeez who tried to sweep the delivery away to on-side.
The powerplay overs have brought some excitement for the spectators. There was a halt in the very first over, couple of early wickets for Galdiators that included a spectacular catch from Thisara Perera and 44 runs being scored
Hafeez shows his class and what a shot from the right-hander. He uses the pace of the ball and flicks that one away to fine leg boundary
WICKET! What a catch from Thisara Perera to dismiss Fletcher. He sprinted backwards and held on to a superb take. Peshawar 10/2. Hamza has his first and this is a brilliant start for Gladiators
Here'a look at Kamran Akmal's dismissal.
Rahat Ali gets Kamran Akmal. He plays it on to his stumps. Akmal is gone for a duck Peshawar are 9/1. It was a brilliant delivery that was going away from the right-hander but Akmal missed to execute the cut properly and played it on to his stumps.
The players are back on the field. We will have live action strating soon. Tamim Iqbal started the proceedings in a brilliant fashion with two boundaries in four balls. We hope hasn't lost his concentration.
The covers are coming off and we can have the live action starting soon. This is surely a very good news for the fans and spectators in Lahore. They are expecting a good game of cricket.
The game has to be stopped just after 4 balls due to rain and the covers have been called on. Nawaz had only bowled four balls before the covers came on. The spectators would expect that the rain stops soon.
Peshawar Zalmi openers Tamim Iqbal and Kamran Akmal are out in the middle and they will start the proceedings. Gladiators have handed the ball to Mohammad Nawaz who will bowl the first over
So, here it is. It would be Quetta Gladiators who will bowl first. Cricket has returned to Pakistan with this encounter. Both the sides are packed with star players and the spectators can expect a good match.
The teams have started the warm-up. It's a big game for both the sides.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators qualifier. The winner of the match will play Karachi Kings in the second eliminator. Earlier Karachi Kings lost to Islamabad United in the qualifier match on Sunday. The Islamabad side have already made a place in the final.