Sammy lifts Zalmi to PSL title 

LAHORE, Pakistan (CMC) – Captain Darren Sammy’s cameo proved critical as his Peshawar Zalmi beat Quetta Gladiator by 58 runs in a final overshadowed by security concerns, to lift the Pakistan Super League title here Sunday.
In the first high profile match played in Pakistan in eight years, Zalmi tallied 148 for six off their 20 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium, with opener Kamran Akmal sustaining his good form with 40 and Sammy arriving at the back end to deliver a stroke-filled unbeaten 28, and earn Man-of-the-Match honours.
In reply, Gladiators never recovered from a dodgy position of 13 for three in the fifth over and crumbled to 90 all out in the 17th over.
Zimbabwe’s Sean Ervine, drafted in for the final, top-scored with 24 while captain Sarfraz Ahmed chipped in with 22, but they were just two of three players in double figures.
Following the final, which was played under tight security amidst fears of a terrorist attack, Sammy praised Pakistani superstar Shahid Afridi for influencing his decision to play in the championship game.
“To me it’s just more than a game. It first started in the draft. Lala (Afridi) made the big announcement that I would be the captain,” the two-time T20 World Cup-winning captain said.
“This trophy means a lot. Lala influenced my decision to come here. I felt tonight I brought a lot of smiles in Lahore and Peshawar. It is an amazing day. We thought with the new ball we did well. If we get 150-160 it would be a good total. We did get to 148 and our bowlers have been doing well this tournament.
“The Peshawar is not just a cricket team, we do a lot for the fans, the foundation. Thanks to the PCB, and the PSL. I am glad I came to experience the atmosphere here. Even though Peshawar came out on top, cricket was the real winner in Lahore.”
Gladiators were without their main stars, Englishmen Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Tyman Mills all of whom refused to play in the final over security fears.
Former West Indies and current Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder, Rayad Emrit, along with Ervine and South African Morne van Wyk, were drafted in as last minute replacements.