Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 final -Peshawar Zalmi wins

The Peshawar Zalmi thrashed the Quetta Gladiators by 58 runs in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 final on Sunday at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

What was to be an intensely competitive final battle turned into a one-sided game, as the Gladiators buckled under the pressure of a 149-run target set by the Zalmi.

The Gladiators made a dismal start to their innings, with only one run in the first over, losing Morne Van Wyk to a run-out on the third ball of the second.

The Zalmi, in contrast, kicked off their innings with three solid boundaries smacked by opener Kamran Akmal.

And although the Zalmi recovered after their middle order fell with a resurgence driven by skipper Darren Sammy, Quetta did not, as wickets continued to fall thick and fast, with all out in the 16th over.

Zalmi's Kamran Akmal and Sammy were the heavy hitters in this game, with opener Akmal racking up a quick 40 before his dismissal, and Sammy closing the Zalmi innings with 28 runs ─ 22 of which were boundaries (three sixes and 1 four).

Quetta Gladiators' bowler Rayad Emrit was a force to be reckoned with in the first innings, taking three wickets ─ Mohammad Hafeez, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Malan ─ with an economy of 31 runs off four overs. Mohammad Nawaz conceded just 15 runs off his four overs, taking one wicket.

Gladiators batsmen Sarfraz Ahmed, SM Ervine and Anwar Ali each scored over 20 runs apiece, contributing a large chunk of the runs to the team's finishing score of 90 runs.

Zalmi bowlers Mohammad Asghar and Wahab Riaz shined in the game, with the former taking three wickets and conceding 16 runs, while the latter took two wickets off 13 runs.

In a video circulating on social media, Darren Sammy said said if the Zalmi win the final, "everybody will shave their heads", including team manager Javed Afridi.

The ICC Spirit of Cricket Award was presented to Islamabad United skipper Misbah-ul-Haq at the closing ceremony. Misbah received the award in December last year. But as Ramiz Raja said, "It's a matter of pride" for the team.

The $20,000 Spirit of Cricket Trophy was awarded to the Quetta Gladiators who played the final without four of their international players.

Kamran Akmal was awarded Man of the Tournament, along with prizes for best wicket-keeping and batting. Sohail Khan was awarded the prize for best bowler of the tournament as he was the highest wicket-taker this PSL season.

Squads

Peshawar Zalmi

Kamran Akmal, DJ Malan, MN Samuels, Mohammad Hafeez, Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, DJG Sammy (C), CJ Jordan, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Asghar.

Quetta Gladiators

Ahmed Shehzad, MN van Wyk, Anamul Haque, SM Ervine, Saad Nasim, Sarfraz Ahmed (C), Mohammad Nawaz, Anwar Ali, Zulfiqar Babar, Rayad Emrit, Hassan Khan.

Relive Quetta Gladiators' dramatic 1-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi in their last match here.

Peshawar Zalmi knocked out Karachi Kings in an intensely-fought match to secure a berth in the final. Read our match report here.