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KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators in the 23rd match of PSL 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to a disciplined bowling display and a composed unbeaten half-century from captain Babar Azam.
The victory was Zalmi’s sixth in seven matches and fifth in a row, following a washout against Islamabad United in Lahore.
Chasing a modest target of 155, Zalmi made light work of the total, reaching it with just two wickets down and nine balls to spare. Openers Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam laid a solid platform with a 75-run stand in under nine overs before Haris was dismissed by Saud Shakeel. Haris contributed a lively 35 off 28 balls, hitting five fours and a six.
After his departure, Babar found support in Kusal Mendis, and the pair added 49 runs for the second wicket to keep the chase firmly on track. Mendis scored 21 before falling to Alzarri Joseph in the 16th over.
Babar, however, remained steady throughout and guided his side home with an unbroken 32-run partnership with Aaron Hardie, who made 18 not out. The skipper finished with a match-winning 71 not out off 51 deliveries, decorated with 10 boundaries.
For Quetta Gladiator, Alzarri Joseph and Saud Shakeel picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and put Quetta Gladiators into bat, a decision that paid off immediately. The Gladiators were jolted in the very first over when opener Ahsan Ali, attempting an ambitious shot, was caught by Haris Khan off Iftikhar Ahmed.
After the early setback, Quetta steadied briefly as captain Saud Shakeel and Rilee Rossouw rebuilt the innings. The pair took the score to 39 runs before Saud Shakeel was run out thanks to sharp fielding by Farhan Yousuf. He made 16 off 13 balls, including two fours and a six.
While the Gladiators managed a couple of productive overs—scoring 13 in the second and 14 in the fourth—the rest of the innings was marked by disciplined bowling, tight lines, and mounting pressure. The scoreboard kept ticking, but wickets fell at regular intervals.
Hasan Nawaz emerged as the most resilient batter for Quetta; he scored 37 off 32 balls.
