Lahore Qalandars oust Peshawar Zalmi to book their place in the playoffs

RAWALPINDI: Lahore Qalandars clinched a place in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 playoffs with a 26-run triumph over Peshawar Zalmi in a rain-shortened contest at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, powered by Fakhar Zaman’s brisk half-century and Salman Mirza’s four-wicket burst.

The defeat ended Peshawar Zalmi’s impressive streak in the PSL, marking the first time in the tournament’s history that they failed to advance to the playoffs.

Tasked with chasing a challenging 150-run target in just 13 overs, Zalmi stumbled to 123/8 despite some resistance from the lower order.

Daniel Sams top-scored for Zalmi with an unbeaten 26, while Ahmed Daniyal (24), Abdul Samad (17), and skipper Babar Azam (16) offered limited support. The rest of the batting lineup faltered, with no other player reaching double figures.

Making his debut, Salman Mirza emerged as the Qalandars’ bowling hero, claiming 4/31 in three overs. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed two wickets, while Sikandar Raza and Haris Rauf contributed one each.

Earlier, after being sent in to bat in a match reduced to 13 overs per side, Qalandars posted a competitive 149/8.

Their innings began explosively with Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem hammering 54 runs in just 3.4 overs. Fakhar led the charge, while Naeem played a handy cameo before being removed by Daniel Sams for 22 off 10 balls, an innings that included three fours and a six.

Fakhar then built brief partnerships with Abdullah Shafique and Kusal Perera, who added five and 17 runs, respectively.

The Qalandars lost momentum midway, especially in the 10th over, when Ali Raza removed the in-form Sikandar Raza for just four, reducing the side to 115/4 in 9.4 overs.

Asif Ali then played a quickfire knock of 18 before falling to Ahmed Daniyal, who immediately dismissed Shakib Al Hasan for a golden duck on the next delivery.

The biggest blow came when Daniel Sams bowled Fakhar in the penultimate over. Fakhar’s 36-ball 60, studded with 10 boundaries including three sixes, remained the highlight of the innings.

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf managed to add 10 more runs before Rauf was run out on the final ball of the innings.

For Zalmi, Sams, Daniyal, and Ali shared two wickets apiece.