Quetta Gladiators on Saturday put up quite the performance with both bat and ball to secure a dominating 80-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

 

After being asked to bat first, Quetta Gladiators piled up an impressive total of 216/3 in 20 overs.

 

Captain Saud Shakeel led from the front with a classy 59 (42), anchoring the innings. He found an able partner in Finn Allen, who launched a brutal assault with a quickfire 53 (25), smashing the Zalmi bowlers at a stunning strike rate of 212.00.

 

Hassan Nawaz added valuable runs in the middle overs with 41 (32), while the final flourish came from Kusal Mendis and Rilee Rossouw, who scored 35 (14) and 21 (10), respectively. Their death-over carnage helped Gladiators cross the 200 mark rather comfortably.

 

Zalmi's bowlers had a tough outing on a batting-friendly surface. Ali Raza picked up the prized wicket of Saud Shakeel, while Sufiyan Muqeem and Alzarri Joseph took one wicket each, dismissing Finn Allen and Hassan Nawaz, respectively.

 

Chasing 217 was always going to be a tall order, and Peshawar Zalmi crumbled under pressure, getting bowled out for 136 in just 15.1 overs.

 

Despite a fighting start from Saim Ayub, who scored 50 (38) with three fours and four sixes, the rest of the batting order collapsed. Star batter and captain Babar Azam returned to the pavilion for duck (0 off 2), and the top order couldn't recover from the early jolts.

 

Hussain Talat gave some hope with a breezy 35 (19) while Mitchell Owen showed some resistance lower down with 31 (13). But the damage was too severe, and Quetta's bowlers didn't let the Zalmi batters breathe.

 

Abrar Ahmed was the pick of the lot, spinning a web with his figures of 4 wickets, including key dismissals of Haris, Kohler-Cadmore, Muqeem and Mohammad Ali.

 

Mohammad Amir struck twice and bowled with great control, while Usman Tariq also picked up two important wickets, including Hussain Talat and Max Bryant.