Quetta Gladiators won by 16 runs against Peshawar Zalmi in the second game of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 on Sunday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Chasing a target of 207, Zalmi managed to score 190 for the loss of six wickets, falling short of 17 runs to register their first win in the ninth edition of the PSL.

The opening pair gave a strong start to the Zalmi as skipper Babar Azam scored 68 off 42 balls while Saim Ayub added 42 runs off 26 deliveries.

However, no other batter could keep the momentum set by the opening pair as Zalmi managed to score 190 for six in 20 overs.

Earlier, the Gladiators set a target of 207-run for Zalmi as both their openers Jason Roy and Saud Shakeel scored fifties. They built an opening partnership of 157 in 15.2 overs.

However, the Rossouw-led side lost five wickets in the latter part of the inning, putting 206 runs on board.

Earlier, Zalim captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to field first.

While Zalmi is led by Azam who captained the team in the previous edition, Gladiators have changed its skipper.

The team removed Sarfaraz Ahmed from the captaincy and appointed Rilee Rossouw as the skipper of the team days before the opening match of the showpiece tournament.

Quetta Gladiators Playing XI: Jason Roy, Saud Shakeel (vc), Khawaja Nafay, Rilee Rossouw (c), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Sherfane Rutherdord, Akeal Hosein, Muhammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed.

Peshawar Zalmi Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Tom-Kohler Cadmore, Rovman Powell, Asif Ali, Dan Mousley, Aamer Jamal, Luke Wood, Mohammad Zeeshan, Salman Irshad.

The PSL 9 kicked off a day earlier with defending champions Lahore Qalanders taking on Islamabad United.

The United thrashed Qalanders as skipper Shadab Khan played a match-winning knock of 74-not out in the 196-run chase.