KARACHI: The mega cricket event Pakistan Super League PSL-4 concluded on Sunday night with a colourful closing ceremony as Quetta Gladiators shed their chokers tag once and for all as they produced a near-perfect performance to thrash arch-rivals Peshawar Zalmi by eight wickets to finally win their first HBL Pakistan Super League title here at the iconic National Stadium.
In what was an anti-climax to an otherwise exciting season, Quetta just rode roughshod over Peshawar, who were unable to rise to the occasion despite an electric atmosphere at the packed stadium. Over 32,000 vocal fans kept the tempo up even as the final failed to live up to expectations.
It was third time lucky for Quetta, who were the losing finalists in the first two editions of the PSL. They were the best PSL team this season and showed why in the one-sided final, winning it with 13 balls to spare.
Young pacer Mohammad Hasnain, who turns 19 next month, landed a killer blow to the Peshawar innings with an impressive spell of 3-30 that helped Quetta restrict their opponents to 138-8. Then Ahmed Shehzad hit an unbeaten 58 with Rilee Rossouw (38) and Ahsan Ali (25) also chipping in to make sure that Quetta continued their domination of Peshawar. It was their fourth win in a row against Zalmi this season and perhaps the most comprehensive as Peshawar were unable to even come close to putting up any worthwhile fight in the title clash.
Despite the one-sided nature of the final, it was the event of Pakistan’s sporting season. The eyes of the entire nation were transfixed on the National Stadium. All roads led to the newly-renovated venue where President Arif Alvi, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and other dignitaries were present.
The closing ceremony was turned into a low-key affair as a mark of respect for the victims of the Christchurch mosques’ attacks.
Things were expected to heat up once action began but Peshawar made a false start after put into bat by Quetta captain Sarfraz Ahmed. After losing their in-form openers – Kamran Akmal and Imam-ul-Haq cheaply, Peshawar struggled during their entire innings as wickets kept falling at regular intervals.
Hasnain was yet again in full flow as he ripped through Peshawar’s innings picking up 3-30 that included the prized scalp of big-hitting West Indian Kieron Pollard.
Peshawar paid the price for relying too heavily on Kamran Akmal as they never really managed to recover from his fall early in the innings. Even the likes of Pollard and Darren Sammy were unable to lift Peshawar’s innings.
Quetta’s bowling arsenal was highly impressive. From Sohail Tanvir (0-23 from 4) to their biggest hero of the night Hasnain, all their bowlers stuck to the plan. They didn’t give Peshawar any room. Bravo finished with 2-24 while Nawaz (1-31) and fellow spinner Fawad Ahmed (1-22) were also among the wickets.
Even though Quetta lost their star batsman Shame Watson early, they were never in any kind of trouble during what was a smooth run-chase. And when Rossouw took the winning run, the entire Quetta contingent just sprinted into the field, celebrating a well-deserved victory.
Hasnain, who is expected to make his Pakistan debut next month, was named man-of-the-match.
“I am thankful to Almighty a chance to play the final and then be man of the match,” he said. “I got enormous support from the whole Quetta camp and everyone helped me achieve this much in the HBL PSL.”
Sarfraz was all praise for a supportive Karachi crowd.
“Thanks Almighty for giving us this honour,” he said. “I am grateful to the crowd for coming here and support us.”
Darren Sammy, Peshawar’s captain rued the fact that his team failed to post a decent total. “We did not score big runs,” He said. “Congrats to Quetta. Today they proved why they beat us in all matches this season but we are still proud that we came this far in this tournament and hard luck to us.”
Quetta’s Shane Watson was named as the Player of HBL PSL 2019 after the 2007 World Cup winner with Australia finished as the leading run-getter in the contest.
Watson finished the series with 430 runs from 12 matches at an average of 43 and a strike-rate of 143.8. He cracked most number of fours and sixes in the tournament, 43 and 22, respectively.
Peshawar’s Hasan Ali of Peshawar Zalmi was adjudged the Best Bowler of HBL PSL 2019. The pacer picked up crucial wickets and finished the series with 25 wickets at an average of 13 with an economy-rate of just under seven. He took four wickets in a match three times.
Karachi Kings’ left-arm spinner Umer Khan was named as the newly introduced Emerging Player. The 18-year-old mesmerised the top-order of all the sides and claimed 15 prized scalps at an economy-rate of just over 7.
The crowd observed one-minute silence over the tragic incident atNew Zealand’s mosques, where 50 innocent people were massacred. The people chanted slogans in favour of Pakistan Army and the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa answered them. The artistes mesmerised the entire crowd with their performance on the occasion.