Watson stars as Quetta enter HBL PSL play-offs

ABU DHABI: Shane Watson scored 91 off just 55 balls to help Quetta Gladiators become the first team to qualify for the HBL PSL play-offs with a comfortable eight wicket win over arch-rivals Peshawar Zalmi in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Watson smashed six sixes and as many boundaries in his undefeated innings, while Ahmed Shehzad cracked five boundaries in his 45-ball 50 as Quetta overhauled the 166-run target in 17.4 overs.

Kamran Akmal had cracked 50-ball 72 with seven boundaries and four sixes to help Peshawar to 165-4 in their 20 overs after they were put into bat.With the victory — their sixth in 12 games against Peshawar — Quetta qualified for the play-offs. With six wins in eight games, they are at the top with 12 points.

Peshawar are second with ten points in eight matches, having won five and lost three. Islamabad United are third with four wins and as many losses in eight games. Lahore Qalandars are fourth with six points (three wins and four losses).

Quetta captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was happy with his team’s progress. “We have done well so it’s great to be in the play-offs,” said Sarfraz. “We try to keep the opponents to totals which we can chase and great to see Shane and Ahmed play so well,” he added.

Peshawar skipper Darren Sammy said his bowlers had an off day. “Yes, tough game. I think bowlers had an off day and they did not bowl as we wanted,” said Sammy.

Watson and Shehzad added a match winning 129 runs for the second wicket as the formidable Peshawar pace attack found it hard to get wickets after Sameen Gul had trapped Ahsan Ali lbw for just one.

When Shehzad was dismissed, bowled by Umaid Asif, Quetta needed only 29 for victory. Rilee Rossouw gave Watson good company during his four-ball 12 with one six and a boundary.Peshawar’s Hasan Ali failed to get a wicket.

When Peshawar batted they were given a brisk start of 38 by Kamran and Andre Fletcher, who made 28-ball 26 with two fours and a six. But once Kamran was dismissed, only Kieron Pollard found the scoring fast, smashing 21-ball 44 not out with seven fours and a six.

Quetta Gladiators won toss

Peshawar Zalmi

†Kamran Akmal b Hasnain 72

ADS Fletcher b Nawaz 26

Imam-ul-Haq c Hasnain b Fawad 13

KA Pollard not out 44

*DJG Sammy c Rossouw b Bravo 3

Umar Amin not out 1

Extras (lb 3, w 3) 6

Total (4 wickets, 20 overs) 165

Did not bat: LA Dawson, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Umaid Asif, Sameen Gul

Fall: 1-58, 2-98, 3-129, 4-164

Bowling: Nawaz(3) 4-0-24-1; Sohail 4-0-38-0; Hasnain 4-0-34-1; Bravo 4-0-41-1; Fawad 4-0-25-1

Quetta Gladiators

SR Watson not out 91

Ahsan Ali lbw b Sameen 1

Ahmed Shehzad b Umaid 50

RR Rossouw not out 12

Extras (lb 3, nb 1, w 8) 12

Total (2 wickets, 17.4 overs) 166

Yet to bat: Umar Akmal, DJ Bravo, Mohammad Nawaz(3), Mohammad Hasnain, Sohail Tanvir, *†Sarfraz Ahmed, Fawad Ahmed

Fall: 1-8 (Ahsan Ali, 1.1 ov), 2-137 (Ahmed Shehzad, 15.5 ov)

Bowling: Hasan 3-0-23-0; Sameen 4-0-34-1; Umaid 4-0-46-1; Wahab 3.4-0-37-0; Dawson 2-0-17-0; Pollard 1-0-6-0

Result: Quetta Gladiators won by 8 wickets

Man of the Match: Shane Watson (QG)

Umpires: Ranmore Martinesz (Sri Lanka) and Asif Yaqoob (Pakistan). TV Umpire: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan)