Peshawar Zalmi secured a comfortable seven-wicket win against Lahore Qalandars in the 14th match of the Pakistan Super League’s tenth edition. The match was played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday night.
Zalmi’s Innings
Chasing a low target of 130, Peshawar Zalmi reached the finish line with ease. They completed the run chase in just 16.4 overs, with 20 balls to spare. Babar Azam led the way with a composed 56 off 42 deliveries. Hussain Talat supported him well with a quick 51 off 37 balls. Their partnership helped Peshawar Zalmi stay in full control of the match.
Mohammad Haris played a short but impactful knock, scoring 20 off 16 balls before falling to Shaheen Shah Afridi. Saim Ayub could only manage 2 runs, while Tom Kohler-Cadmore got out without scoring.
For Lahore Qalandars, Shaheen Afridi bowled with heart. He picked up 2 wickets for 22 runs. Haris Rauf got one wicket but was expensive, conceding 39 runs. The rest of the bowling attack, including Mohammad Wasim, Daryl Mitchell, Rishad Hossain, Asif Afridi, and Sikandar Raza, failed to take a wicket.
Qalandars’ Innings
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars struggled with the bat after being sent in. Their innings never picked up momentum. Sikandar Raza was the only shining light, scoring a fighting 52 off 37 balls. He helped the team post a modest total of 130.
Most of the Qalandars’ batters collapsed under pressure. Fakhar Zaman made just 10. Asif Ali scored 4. Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, and Mohammad Azab all went out cheaply, with scores of 0, 2, and 0 respectively. Sam Billings (9), Rishad Hossain (13), Haris Rauf (10), and Shaheen Afridi (16) also failed to provide much resistance. Asif Afridi stayed unbeaten on 6 runs from 11 balls.
Peshawar Zalmi’s bowlers delivered an excellent performance. Alzarri Joseph took 3 wickets and was the standout performer. Luke Wood and Arif Yaqoob shared 2 wickets each. Mitchell Owen bowled but went wicketless.
This victory further strengthens Peshawar Zalmi’s position in the tournament. Their all-round performance, with both bat and ball, proved too strong for the defending champions.
