Peshawar Zalmi followed Babar Azam’s latest Pakistan Super League (PSL) milestone with a commanding 76-run win over defending champions Lahore Qalandars at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
After posting 173/7, Peshawar Zalmi rolled Lahore Qalandars over for just 97 in 16.5 overs to register their fourth win of the season and finish the day at the top of the table.
The result capped another memorable outing for Zalmi, who had already seen Babar become the first player in PSL history to complete 4,000 runs earlier in the match.
Chasing 174, Lahore never recovered from an early blow as Shoriful Islam removed Mohammad Naeem for just one in the second over. Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique briefly settled things with a 39-run stand, but Zalmi quickly tightened their grip once Nahid Rana dismissed Shafique for 21 off 15 balls.
Fakhar followed soon after for 21 off 19, while Haseebullah Khan and Asif Ali also fell cheaply as Lahore slipped to 56/5 in 9.2 overs.
From there, the innings unraveled in a hurry.
Michael Bracewell removed both Fakhar and Haseebullah before also getting rid of Sikandar Raza for 14, while Sufiyan Muqeem struck key blows to dismiss Asif Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Ubaid Shah. Nahid returned to send back Usama Mir as Lahore’s chase collapsed under relentless pressure.
Only Wellalage, who made 20, offered some late resistance before Aamer Jamal wrapped up the innings.
Zalmi’s bowling effort was clinical across the board, with Bracewell, Sufiyan, and Nahid all making decisive contributions after Shoriful’s early breakthrough set the tone.
Earlier, Zalmi made a lively start with Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam adding quick runs at the top. Haris struck 18 off 10 balls before Shaheen Afridi dismissed him to give Lahore their first breakthrough.
Babar then rebuilt the innings with Kusal Mendis, and the pair once again proved decisive for Zalmi. Fresh off his latest PSL record, Babar played the anchor’s role while Mendis attacked fluently at the other end.
The two added 109 runs for the second wicket to put Zalmi in control. Babar made 43 off 40 balls, hitting three fours and a six, before Usama Mir ended his stay at 127/2 in 15.2 overs.
Mendis carried on in aggressive fashion and brought up another half-century, eventually scoring 74 off 48 balls with five fours and four sixes. Bracewell then chipped in with a brisk 21 off 10, helping Zalmi push beyond 170.
Lahore did manage late wickets through Shaheen Afridi, who finished with three wickets, while Ubaid Shah and Mustafizur Rahman picked up one each. But the total proved more than enough once Zalmi’s bowlers took over.
Stay posted to ProSports for all the latest PSL 11 news, points table update, power rankings, schedule, and stats.
