Top 5 matches in Pakistan Super League history

#4 Quetta Gladiators vs Peshawar Zalmi, February 28th 2017

Mohammad Nawaz bowled a scarcely believable deciding over against Zalmi in 2017.

In an incredible turn of fate, for the second year running in the exact same game, Quetta Gladiators trumped Peshawar Zalmi by a solitary run in the Qualifier. In the previous year, The Gladiators had managed to sneak over the line after Kevin Pietersen's fifty and some neat bowling from Aizaz Cheema at the death, but the encounter a year later was to be very different despite a remarkably identical conclusion.

Again, Pietersen helped Quetta accelerate, but it was Ahmed Shehzad's excellent 71 from 38 alongside a late contribution from Anwar Ali that helped Quetta climb to an above-par 200-7 when aiming to seal a berth in the final. After cheap dismissals of Kamran Akmal and Marlon Samuels, Dawid Malan and Mohammad Hafeez both hit fifties to just keep Peshawar in the hunt in spite of good bowling by Anwar Ali and Tymal Mills early on.

When Hafeez was dismissed for 77 from 47 balls by Mohammad Nawaz, the Zalmi needed 59 from 37 and looked pretty slim to get home but Shahid Afridi had just entered and wasn't going to let the Gladiators ease into the final. A relentless knock of 34 from 13 balls by 'Boom Boom' took Peshawar right to the winning line, leaving them needing 7 from the final over, but an unbelievable passage of play was about to unfold.

In an unforeseen decision, captain Sarfaraz Ahmed decided to bring on off-spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who had endured a torrid spell of 46 runs from his three overs. Sammy started well, smiting a boundary before handing the strike to Chris Jordan needing two from three.

After missing out on the title in the previous season, a largely unchanged Zalmi were determined to put it right but a caught behind and two run-outs sent Quetta flying into the final and left Peshawar stunned.

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#3 Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators, March 10th 2019

Ahmed Shehzad played an incredible knock against Karachi in 2019.

Another superb inning from Ahmed Shehzad this time saw him finish on the wrong side of the result. On a good pitch in Karachi, the home side started out well with Babar Azam, Colin Munro and Colin Ingram all starring in the opening and middle overs of the game before Iftikhar Ahmed bludgeoned the Kings to a stellar score of 190-5, with all the Quetta bowlers going at around the 8-9 economy rate.

Quick cameos from Shane Watson and Umar Akmal and three wickets from youngster Umer Khan left the match dead level at the halfway point but Quetta opener Ahmed Shehzad was not going to let Karachi get a foothold. A flurry of maximums and classy strokeplay got the international batsman all the way to 99 from 56 balls but a stunning catch from Colin Ingram saw Shehzad fall heartbreakingly short of a maiden PSL hundred with Quetta left needing four.

Shinwari was taken for almost 14 runs an over without a wicket prior to the final over but despite the odds being against him, he claimed a second consecutive wicket after Shehzad by dismissing Anwar Ali. Panic had engulfed the Quetta camp and after a single on the hat-trick ball, Shinwari bowled Sarfaraz Ahmed to send the crowd into wild celebrations.

Three was required from the final delivery, but accuracy and pace proved too tricky for Sohail Tanvir on that occasion and Karachi sealed an incredible victory by just one run.