SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Marlon Samuels failed again while captain
was left stranded at the other end, as Peshawar Zalmi suffered a last-over heartbreak in a one-run loss to Quetta Gladiators in the first semi-final of the Pakistan Super League here yesterday.
Set an imposing 201 for victory at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Zalmi pulled themselves off the ropes at three runs for two wickets in the second over to be within touching distance of victory, at 194 for six heading into the final over.
Sammy was kept scoreless off the first ball from off-spinner Mohammad Nawaz but survived a difficult dropped chance to at point off the next ball, with Tymal Mills adding insult to injury by parrying the ball into the boundary. A single off the next ball put Barbados-born England all-rounder Chris Jordan on strike with two runs needed from the last three balls.
However, Sammy then watched helplessly from the non-striker’s end as Jordan, Wahab Riaz and Hasan Ali perished to first-ball ducks – the last two via the run out route – as Zalmi’s chances of a spot in the final slipped through their grasp. Sammy finished on 11 not out.
Samuels had earlier run himself out for one before Mohammad Hafeez smashed 77 from 47 balls and English opener Dawid Malan, 56 off 30 deliveries, in a 139-run, third wicket stand which breathed new life into the run chase.
Superstar Shahid Afridi then further tilted the balance Zalmi’s way with a 13-ball 34 which was laced with a four and four sixes.
Sent in, Gladiators got a stunning 71 off 38 balls from opener Ahmed Shehzad and 40 from England’s Kevin Pietersen, the two posting posting 90 for the second wicket.
