LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi registered a thrilling five-wicket victory over Rawalpindi in a high-scoring encounter during the third match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a formidable target of 215 runs, Zalmi displayed a well-rounded batting performance, reaching the total on the first ball of the final over with five wickets in hand.
The chase was anchored by openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris, who provided a blistering start. The pair raced to a 50-run partnership inside five overs and extended it to 78 before Babar was dismissed for a fluent 39 off 28 deliveries.
Haris continued the momentum with a quickfire 47 off 28 balls but fell at a crucial stage, leaving Zalmi at 96-2 midway through the innings.
Kusal Mendis then accelerated the scoring with an aggressive 31 off 17 balls, while Abdul Samad and Michael Bracewell played pivotal roles in stabilising the innings during the middle overs.
Samad’s explosive cameo of 33 off just 11 balls, featuring four sixes, shifted the momentum firmly in Zalmi’s favour. The finishing touches were applied by Aamir Jamal, who struck a six off his first delivery and remained unbeaten on 17, alongside Bracewell’s impactful 35 off 17 balls.
Rawalpindi’s Strong Start
Earlier, opting to bat first, Rawalpindi posted an imposing 214-4 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a dominant opening partnership between Yasir Khan and skipper Mohammad Rizwan.
The duo stitched together a 125-run stand, with Yasir Khan leading the charge with a brilliant 83 off 46 balls, including six sixes, while Rizwan contributed 41 off 32 deliveries.
Zalmi’s Ali Raza broke the partnership and emerged as the standout bowler, claiming two key wickets.
In the latter stages, Kamran Ghulam (37 off 20) and Daryl Mitchell added valuable runs, while Sam Billings provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 18.
Bowling Performances
Despite the high-scoring nature of the contest, several bowlers made notable contributions. Ali Raza led Zalmi’s effort with figures of 2/42, while Aamir Jamal and Aaron Hardie claimed one wicket each.
For Rawalpindi, Amad Butt picked up two wickets but proved expensive, conceding 45 runs in his four overs, while Mohammad Amir, Asif Afridi and Rishad Hossain took one wicket apiece.
The match highlighted the batting depth and finishing strength of Peshawar Zalmi, as they successfully chased one of the highest targets of the tournament in a contest filled with power-hitting and momentum swings.
