Watson’s 91* outshines Akmal’s half-century, Gladiators win by eight wickets

ABU DHABI: Opener Shane Watson's unbeaten 91 run-innings overshadowed Kamran Akmal's half-century as Quetta Gladiators slammed Darren Sammy's Peshawar Zalmi by eight wickets.

Watson was supported by Ahmad Shehzad, who didn't look well adjusted but nonetheless contributed half-century to build a winning 129-run stand. 

For Zalmi Umaid Asif and Sameen Gul picked one-wicket each.

The win takes Gladiators to the top of the points table. 

First Innings

Zalmi started the game on a high with opener Kamran Akmal's 72 runs innings powering them to 165 runs in their 20 overs. 

Kieron Pollard's unbeaten 44 runs innings with seven boundaries contributed substantive runs during the death overs of the game. 

Despite the small boundaries, this wasn't the easiest track to score quickly on, especially to the spinners, with Fawad Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz taking a combined 2 for 49 in eight overs. 

Muhammad Hasnain and DJ Bravo took one-wicket each for  Gladiators.