Will Smeed, the young England batter smashed 97 and he could have gotten a century had it not been for a fine catch at the boundary as his team Quetta Gladiators lost to Peshawar Zalmi.
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The Pakistan Super League T20 tournament started off in exciting fashion at the National Stadium in Karachi. The match between Quetta Gladiators and the Peshawar Zalmi saw a run-fest, with one batsman missing his century by mere inches. The final total was chased down thanks to the exploits from a Pakistani veteran who started his career in the 90s but is going strong even today.
Will Smeed, who played in The 100 tournament for the Birmingham Phoenix, was in fine form in the match against Peshawar Zalmi. He, along with Ahsan Ali laid the foundation for a massive score. But, in the end, the death bowling of Peshawar Zalmi ensured that the target of 190 could be chased down in solid fashion.
Peshawar Zalmi chose to bowl but their decision seemed to have backfired. Ahsan Ali got going with a boundary. But, Smeed smashed Sohail Khan for a four and six to start the proceedings in style. Ahsan Ali and Smeed continued the pepper the boundary fence, with Smeed’s Birmingham Phoenix team-mate Patrick Brown dropping a chance. Ahsan Ali hit Usman Qadir for a six and four to end the powerplay on 62/0.
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Smeed was given another chance when Sohail Khan dropped him on 37 off Usman Qadir. Smeed made Peshawar Zalmi pay by hammering Ben Cutting for a 101-meter six that went onto the roof of the National Stadium. The batter notched up his fifty with a flicked six off Sameen Gul while the 100-run opening partnership was registered.
Ahsan Ali hit a big six off Shoaib Malik to reach his fifty as well. Peshawar Zalmi continued to be abysmal in the field, dropping Ahsan Ali on 55. In the 15th over, it was carnage as Ahsan Ali hit two fours and a six off Sohail Khan. The bowler conceded 24 runs in the over when Smeed hit another big six. The 155-run stand was broken when Sherfane Rutherford took Ahsan Ali’s catch at deep midwicket but the replays did not conclusive proof. In the end, the decision went against the batter and he was not happy. In the same over, Ben Duckett went for 0.
Smeed entered the 90s with a couple of boundaries while Sameen Gul sent back Iftikhar Ahmed. With three runs required off the final ball for his ton, Smeed blasted Sameen Gul’s full toss to deep midwicket. But, Patrick Brown steadied himself on the boundary, ensured that he was just inside and he took the catch. Replays showed that the foot was millimeters away from the rope. The knock of 97 by Will Smeed ensured Quetta Gladiators ended on 190/4. But, looking at the platform that was laid, it was perhaps 20-25 runs short.
Peshawar Zalmi started brilliantly, with Yasir Khan hitting Mohammad Hasnain for three boundaries in one over. Yasir continued the onslaught by hammering Sohail Tanvir for a six and a four. Mohammad Nawaz bore the brunt of Yasir’s fury, getting hit for another six and four. But, the bowler had his revenge when Yasir Khan went for 30 off 12 balls. Tom Kohler-Cadmore looked dangerous with a six off Nawaz over long-on. Yet again, it was the bowler who got on top as he dismissed Kohler-Cadmore for 22. Haider Ali looked good with two fours off Ashir Qureshi but Nawaz got his third wicket.
Shoaib Malik looked to continue the good start by launching Iftikhar Ahmed for a six. Hussain Talat then ruined Nawaz’s economy rate by blasting two sixes and a four in the 12th over which cost 17 runs. Malik and Talat then decided to go after the Quetta Gladiators bowlers by regularly finding the fence. Talat notched up his fifty off 27 balls by cutting Naseem Shah to the backward point fence.
But, James Faulkner got the wicket of Talat for 52 and the game was wide open. Peshawar Zalmi needed 26 runs off 12 balls and it was here that Malik showed his experience. After Sherfane Rutherford hit a four, Malik blasted two sixes and a four off Faulkner 22 runs came in the over. Although Naseem Shah got the wicket of Rutherford, Malik guided Peshawar Zalmi over the line by five wickets.
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