PSL 2018 – Match 23: Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi

1. The importance of batting partnerships in cricketing contests cannot be overstated. Partnerships form the backbone of a batting innings and can singlehandedly decide the outcome of a match. This match was, also, decided by a magnificent partnership between Rilee Rossouw and Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed. With their team in danger of losing the game at 84-4, both batsmen came out to bat under pressure. They did not let it affect them though, as they played with composure and professionally carried their team to victory in the face of brilliant bowling from Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz.
2. Shane Watson was once again instrumental in Quetta’s success. Not only did the tournament’s highest scorer contribute a crucial 37 runs, he once again chipped in with a controlled bowling effort. Watson not only choked the flow of runs for the Zalmi, but also bowled wicket taking deliveries and was rewarded with two scalps.
3. The Zalmi will be kicking themselves as they shot themselves in the foot with a careless batting effort. Had they batted a bit more shrewdly and gotten fifteen to twenty more runs on the board, it might have been a different story. As it transpired, the Zalmi, despite a courageous bowling effort from their pacemen, simply did not have enough runs to work with.
4. Quetta go top with ten points while the Zalmi lie in fifth position and are dangerously close to elimination. This result also guaranteed elimination for the Lahore Qalandars who are rock bottom.

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