Quetta Gladiators 128 (20/20 ov)
Peshawar Zalmi 130/8 (19.2/20 ov)
Peshawar Zalmi won by 2 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)
DUBAI // Two players from either end of the experience scale combined to claim top spot in the HBL Pakistan Super League for Peshawar Zalmi.
Mohammed Asghar, a left-arm spinner who only turned 18 in December, took three wickets as Zalmi held Quetta Gladiators to 128 at the Dubai International Stadium.
Despite chasing a relatively low total, Zalmi struggled in the face of fine fast-bowling from Tymal Mills, and the off-spin of Mahmudullah Riad, who took three wickets apiece.
However, 37-year-old Shahid Afridi, who last week officially retired from international cricket – again – muscled his side across the line in yet another tense finish in the PSL.
Hasan Ali, who had earlier taken two wickets for Peshawar, also made a valuable contribution with the bat, taking four from each of Mills’ last two balls in the penultimate over.
That left Peshawar needing seven runs from the last over, which Afridi completed within the space of two balls off Mahmudullah.
pradley@thenational.ae
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