Twitter Reactions: Wahab Riaz holds his nerves in Super Over despite Shaheen Afridi's excellent last-over heroics

Peshawar Zalmi got the better of an in-form Lahore Qalandars in an exciting Super Over in the Match 30 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 on February 21. Even though both sides are through to the playoffs,  It was a much-needed win for the Zalmi that will boost their morale heading into Eliminator 1 against Islamabad United on February 24. The Qalandars on the other hand will be locking horns with the defending champions Multan Sultans in the Qualifier on February 23.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi decided to bat first after winning the toss at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore. Opener Mohammad Haris was dismissed by pacer Haris Rauf for just six runs in the second over before his opening partner Hazratullah Zazai looked to make amends. But he could not hang around there for too long despite getting a reprieve off Rauf’s delivery as he went back for just 20 runs to his name.

Wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal and youngster Haider Ali chipped in with 18 and 25 respectively but veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik was the top-scorer with 32 runs off 28 deliveries. Unbeaten knocks of 17 and 19 from Hussain Talat and Khalid Usman propelled Zalmi to 158/7 from their 20 overs.

Skipper Shaheen Afridi takes the game to a Super Over

In reply, Lahore Qalandars lost their explosive opener, Fakhar Zaman, for a golden duck before Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Hafeez got the chase back on track. While wickets kept falling regularly from one end, Hafeez steadied the ship from the other and single-handedly looked to take the Qalandars home.

Unfortunately, the veteran all-rounder was dismissed in the 17th over after scoring 49 runs off 44 deliveries and when it appeared that Lahore would lose their way, skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi came to their rescue. The tail-ender scored a quickfire unbeaten 39 runs off 20 balls and scored 23 runs from the final over bowled by pacer Mohammad Umar including three maximums as Lahore finished at 158/8 and the match was tied.

In the Super Over, skipper Wahab Riaz kept the hard-hitting Fakhar Zaman and Harry Brook in control and conceded just five runs and then Peshawar Zalmi chased down the six-run target within the blink of an eye as Shoaib Malik struck Shaheen Afridi for a couple of boundaries.

Here are the Twitter Reactions to Peshawar Zalmi’s thrilling Super Over win