Opting to bat first, Peshawar got off to a flying start with their openers Babar Azam and Saim Ayub smashing the Quetta bowlers all around the park. Babar played a magnificent knock of 115 off just 65 deliveries, while Saim played a brilliant supporting role with a quickfire 74 off just 34 balls. The Quetta bowlers tried their best to contain the Peshawar batters, but they were unable to stop them from posting a massive total of 240-2 in their 20 overs. Dwaine Pretorius was the pick of the bowlers for Quetta Gladiators, picking up one wicket for 40 runs in his four overs.
Chasing a mammoth total of 241, Quetta also started well as Jason Roy came out all guns blazing and played an unbelievable knock of 145 off just 63 deliveries. His innings included 20 fours and 5 sixes, and he became the highest individual scorer in the history of the PSL. Mohammad Hafeez played a crucial knock of 41 off just 18 balls, which helped Quetta chase down the target with ten balls to spare. Mujeeb ur Rehman and Wahab Riaz picked up a wicket each for Peshawar, but they were unable to stop the Quetta batters from doing a record run chase.
Apart from the high-scoring game and exceptional batting performances from both teams, Wahab’s dismissal of Martin Guptill also entertained the fans. On the fifth ball of the third over, Wahab produced a shorter delivery to Gupill, which the latter tried to pull but ended up hitting straight in the air, and the left-arm pacer made no mistake in collecting the white leather as he claimed a caught and bowled.
After dismissing Guptill, Wahab went closer to him and kissed the left side of the opener’s helmet, which soon went viral on social media.
Here’s the video:
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