Faheem Ashraf led Quetta Gladiators to a dominant 64-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi with a brilliant five-wicket haul at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday night. It took him just 20 balls to claim his second T20 five-wicket haul.

By PakPassion Staff (April 27th, 2025)

Under the leadership of Saud Shakeel, the Gladiators moved to third on the points table with three wins from five matches, including consecutive victories at their home ground in Lahore.

Quetta’s pace attack delivered a clinical performance, returning a collective 9-81 in 12.2 overs as they defended a total of 178 runs after Zalmi opted to bowl first.

Faheem, who also holds the record for the second-best bowling figures in HBL PSL (6-19), struck early for the Gladiators, removing Saim Ayub in the second over. His key double strike in the eighth over, dismissing Mohammad Haris and Abdul Samad, shattered Zalmi’s batting line-up as they crumbled to 50-5.

Zalmi’s captain Babar Azam fell for just 12 runs, including a six and a four, as Mohammad Amir bowled him out LBW in the third over. Mohammad Wasim Jnr added to Zalmi’s struggles by dismissing Tom Kohler-Cadmore in the fifth over.

Hussain Talat offered some resistance with a 34-ball 39, which included two sixes and four boundaries, but he lacked support, as no other Zalmi batter managed to score more than 20 runs. Khurram Shahzad was also effective with the ball, taking 2 wickets for just 9 runs from three overs, as Zalmi further collapsed to 81-7.

The last three wickets added only 29 runs before Faheem finished the innings, dismissing Luke Wood and Sufyan Moqim in the 12th and 16th overs. Abrar Ahmed took a single wicket in his three overs.

Earlier, Quetta’s top-five batters all reached double figures, with all but No. 3 Rilee Rossouw making significant contributions. Rossouw scored 27 runs off 18 balls, including five fours. Openers Saud Shakeel (32 off 26 balls) and Finn Allen (31 off 16 balls, 4x4s, 2x6s) set the tone with a 46-run partnership off 27 balls, with Allen being the main aggressor.

Saud and Rossouw added 45 runs together, taking the score to 91-2 in 9.3 overs. Kusal Mendis (32 off 27 balls, 5x4s) and Mark Chapman (33 off 26 balls, 3x4s) steadied the innings with a 29-run stand for the fourth wicket before Mendis fell, leaving the score at 144-4 in 17 overs.

Quetta added 34 runs in the last three overs to set a competitive total of 178-7 in 20 overs. Alzarri Joseph was the best bowler for Zalmi, claiming three wickets for 33 runs in four overs, while Saim Ayub took 2 wickets for 24 runs from four overs.

Peshawar Zalmi now sit fifth on the points table with only two wins from six matches. The next day, Monday, 28 April, will be a rest day in HBL PSL X.