Peshawar Zalmi extended their winning run in the PSL with a convincing eight-wicket victory against Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday (April 15).
Muqeem Leads Strong Bowling Display
Powered by Sufiyan Muqeem, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, Zalmi dismissed Gladiators for 154, ensuring no partnership crossed the 35-run mark. The early breakthrough came when Iftikhar Ahmed removed Ahsan Ali with the third delivery of the innings, caught in the deep.
Rilee Rossouw and Saud Shakeel looked set for a steady phase, but a mix-up resulted in Shakeel’s run-out while attempting a non-existent single in the fifth over. Rossouw carried on briefly before Muqeem struck in his opening over, tightening control alongside Ali Raza. Mohammad Basit then removed Hasan Nawaz, the top-scorer, caught behind.
Gladiators struggled to find rhythm, managing only two sixes across the innings. Frequent wickets prevented any sustained momentum, and Basit’s variations proved effective as he picked up two wickets in the penultimate over, with the total just crossing 150.
Reflecting on the innings, captain Saud Shakeel said it was a “175-180” pitch and pointed to the lack of clarity during the middle overs, adding, “We lose so many wickets that we ourselves are not able to decide how to play in that phase.”
Zalmi Make Light Work of Chase
In reply, Zalmi began steadily, with Babar Azam showcasing his trademark strokeplay while Mohammad Haris adopted a more aggressive approach. The decision to use Abrar Ahmed in the Powerplay did not pay off, as Zalmi reached 59/0 after six overs.
Haris was the first to fall, caught at the boundary by Shamyl, who completed a juggling catch after nearly spilling it. Usman Tariq bowled economically in the middle overs, supported by Shakeel, but the required rate remained under control throughout.
Babar continued fluently, also losing Kusal Mendis along the way, and brought up his half-century off 37 balls. His innings of 71 included 10 boundaries, and he sealed the chase with a flick off Jahandad Khan with nine balls remaining. The knock also marked his 100th T20 fifty.
Standings and Key Performances
Sufiyan Muqeem earned his second consecutive Player of the Match award for his impact with the ball.
Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis currently sit at the top of the run-scoring charts, with Babar surpassing 300 runs in a season for the third time with Zalmi. The team now has six wins from seven matches, including a washout, strengthening their position in the playoff race. Quetta Gladiators, meanwhile, remain fifth with two wins and four losses.
Brief Scores:
- Quetta Gladiators: 154 all out (20 overs)
- Hasan Nawaz 37, Rilee Rossouw 26
- Sufiyan Muqeem 3-25, Mohammad Basit 3-36
- Peshawar Zalmi: 156/2 (18.3 overs)
- Babar Azam 71, Mohammad Haris 35
- Saud Shakeel 1-23, Alzarri Joseph 1-32
