The tenth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) started with a bang as Quetta Gladiators (QG) produced an 80-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi (PZ) in their first encounter.
In the QG vs PZ PSL 2025 encounter, Quetta’s top-order fireworks and clinical bowling performance by Abrar Ahmed set the tone for defending a good target. Abrar won the Player of the Match award for picking 4 wickets at the expense of 42 runs.
Finn Allen and Saud Shakeel Set the Tone With Blistering Fifties
Batting first after Zalmi elected to field upon winning the toss, Finn Allen did not waste any time, cracking a furious 53 of only 25 deliveries. His destructive innings set the tone for the innings, particularly in a slaughterous powerplay period. Alongside him, Saud Shakeel also played a quick and calm half-century, helping Gladiators gain momentum right at the start.
Together, Allen and Shakeel amassed 65 runs in the powerplay, completely dismantling Zalmi’s bowling attack. Despite Allen falling to Sufiyan Muqeem after an over of carnage that included three sixes and a four, the damage was already done.
Middle-Order Momentum: Nawaz, Rossouw, and Mendis Keep the Pressure
Middle overs witnessed Hasan Nawaz and Rilee Rossouw sustaining the aggressive rhythm. Quetta was not giving up, retaining control even as wickets sometimes came tumbling over. Death overs were witnessed to be given away by Kusal Mendis through his match-winning fireworks of 35 runs from 14 deliveries to help QG achieve a huge 217/4.
A late flurry of boundaries in a 58-run stand between Rossouw and Mendis off just 23 balls took the game further out of Zalmi’s reach.
Peshawar Zalmi Falter Despite Saim Ayub’s Lone Resistance
Facing their highest-ever chase, Peshawar Zalmi stumbled early when captain Babar Azam fell for a second-ball duck. Despite a fluent 38-ball fifty from Saim Ayub, Zalmi never truly looked in contention.
Mohammad Haris tried to build a foundation alongside Ayub but was undone by Abrar Ahmed, who returned to torment Zalmi’s middle and lower order.
Abrar Ahmed’s Four-Wicket Haul Wrecks Zalmi Line-up
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed swung the game solidly in the favor of Quetta with an excellent four-wicket haul, tearing apart the lineup of Zalmi through flight and accuracy. His over ignited a shocking collapse in which Zalmi lost six wickets for merely 24 runs, marking the end of their aspirations.
Additional contributions from Kyle Jamieson and Usman Tariq further mounted pressure on Zalmi as their mainstays such as Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Hussain Talat, and Max Bryant kept falling in a series of consecutive wickets.
Mitchell Owen’s Cameo Not Enough to Save Zalmi
Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen briefly brought some excitement, hitting 31 off 13 balls including four sixes. But his late cameo was halted by Mohammad Amir, who coaxed a top edge to bring the innings to a close. Kusal Mendis, brilliant with the bat as well, took the catch behind the wickets to confirm the resounding victory.
QG vs PZ PSL 2025 Match Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi – PSL 2025 |
| Venue | TBD (Match 1) |
| Result | Quetta Gladiators won by 80 runs |
| QG Innings | 217/4 (20 overs) |
| Top QG Batters | Finn Allen (53), Saud Shakeel (50+), Kusal Mendis (35*) |
| Top QG Bowlers | Abrar Ahmed (4 wickets), Mohammad Amir |
| PZ Innings | All out for 137 |
| Top PZ Batter | Saim Ayub (50) |
| Top PZ Cameo | Mitchell Owen (31 off 13) |
| Conclusion | A Perfect Start for Quetta in PSL 2025 |
Quetta Gladiators could not have wished for a more impressive beginning to their PSL 2025 journey. With their batsmen blazing and Abrar Ahmed spearheading the bowling effort, they made themselves known as serious players. Conversely, Peshawar Zalmi will have to pick themselves up in a hurry from this drubbing if they are to remain competitive this season.
