LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi smashed RawalPindiz with scintillating batting to snatch a five-wicket victory here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
This third match of the Pakistan Super League 2026 produced one of the most exhilarating contests of the season so far. In a clash that had everything—explosive batting, momentum swings, and a nail-biting finish — Peshawar Zalmi successfully chased down a daunting target of 215 to defeat debutants Rawalpindi Pindiz by five wickets with five balls to spare. Peshawar Zalmi mustered 218 runs in 19.1 overs.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Rawalpindi Pindiz announced their arrival in PSL with a commanding batting performance. Their innings was spearheaded by Yasir Khan, who played a sensational knock of 83 off 46 balls, striking seven fours and six sixes. His aggressive approach in the powerplay ensured Pindiz raced to 63 without loss in the first six overs. Partnering him, Mohammad Rizwan provided stability with a composed 41 off 32 balls, and together the openers stitched a formidable stand of 125 runs before Rizwan fell in the 13th over.
The middle order carried the momentum forward. Kamran Ghulam smashed 37 off 20 balls, while Daryl Mitchell added a brisk 23 off 13 balls. In the final overs, Sam Billings (18 off 8 balls) and Abdullah Fazal (5 off 2 balls) applied the finishing touches, propelling the team to 214 for 4 in 20 overs. Despite the imposing total, their head coach admitted the score was “ten short of what they would have wanted,” hinting at the batting-friendly conditions.
Chasing 215, Zalmi’s innings began with intent. The opening pair of Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam set the tone, scoring freely against the new-ball bowlers. Haris struck 47 off 28 balls with four boundaries and two sixes, while Babar crafted 39 off 28 balls, mixing elegance with aggression. The duo added 78 runs before Babar was dismissed in the ninth over following a successful review by Pindiz.
Haris followed soon after, leaving Zalmi at 96 for two. The middle overs saw a brief stutter as Aaron Hardie managed only 8 off 10 balls, and Kusal Mendis, despite his brisk 31 off 17 balls, fell quickly after. At 130 for four in the 14th over, the chase looked precarious, but Zalmi’s lower middle order rose to the occasion.
The turning point came with the arrival of Michael Bracewell and Abdul Samad, who launched a counterattack that shifted momentum decisively in Zalmi’s favor. Bracewell played with authority, smashing 35 off 17 balls with three fours and two sixes. Samad was even more destructive, hammering 33 off just 11 balls, including four towering sixes.
