Zalmi Crush Qalandars by 76 Runs to Stay Unbeaten
KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi continued their impressive run in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, securing a convincing 76-run victory over defending champions Lahore Qalandars at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday, thanks to a commanding all-round performance led by their bowlers.
Chasing 174, Lahore never found momentum and were bowled out for just 97 in 16.5 overs, as Zalmi’s bowling attack kept a tight grip throughout the innings.
The Qalandars’ troubles began early when Shoriful Islam struck in the second over, removing Mohammad Naeem for just one. Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique attempted to rebuild with a steady partnership, but Nahid Rana broke the stand by dismissing Shafique for a brisk 21.
Soon after, Michael Bracewell removed Fakhar for 21, triggering a collapse. Lahore’s middle order failed to respond as Haseebullah and Asif Ali fell cheaply, leaving the side struggling at 56-5.
Bracewell continued to dominate, picking up his third wicket by dismissing Sikandar Raza, while Sufiyan Muqeem also played a key role, striking at regular intervals. Shaheen Afridi and Usama Mir offered little resistance as wickets kept tumbling.
The lower order provided minimal fight, with Dunith Wellalage scoring 20, but it was far from enough as Aamer Jamal wrapped up the innings to seal a comprehensive win for Zalmi.
Earlier, Zalmi posted a competitive 173-7 after being asked to bat first. Mohammad Haris gave them a quick start with an aggressive 18 before Shaheen Afridi provided an early breakthrough.
Babar Azam then partnered with Kusal Mendis to stabilise the innings, with the duo building a crucial 109-run stand. Mendis led the charge with a fluent 74, showcasing excellent timing and power, while Babar played a composed knock of 43 to anchor the innings.
After Babar’s dismissal, Bracewell chipped in with a quick 21 to maintain the scoring rate. Shaheen Afridi returned strongly to remove Mendis and finish with three wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman and Ubaid Shah also chipped in with key breakthroughs.
Despite a few late wickets, Zalmi managed to finish strongly and set a challenging total, which ultimately proved far beyond Lahore Qalandars on the day.
