Peshawar Zalmi secured a dramatic four-wicket win over Hyderabad Kingsmen, sealing victory off the final delivery in a tense PSL 11 encounter.
Chasing 146, Zalmi required one run from the last ball and managed to complete the task, extending their unbeaten start to the tournament despite a strong late fightback from the Kingsmen bowlers.
Earlier, Zalmi’s bowlers, led by Iftikhar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem, had bundled out Hyderabad Kingsmen for 145, setting up what initially appeared to be a manageable chase.
Iftikhar and Muqeem Dismantle Kingsmen
After being put into bat, Kingsmen struggled early as Iftikhar Ahmed made immediate impact. Introduced in the third over, he dismissed Maaz Sadaqat before striking three more times in his next over, removing Saim Ayub, Sharjeel Khan, and Usman Khan to leave the side in deep trouble.
At that stage, Kingsmen needed recovery, and Kusal Perera combined with captain Marnus Labuschagne to rebuild the innings. Perera led the effort with a half-century, forming an 82-run partnership with Labuschagne, who scored 27.
The stand was broken by Muqeem, who removed Labuschagne, before also dismissing Perera soon after. From there, the innings collapsed rapidly, with the last five wickets falling for just nine runs in 12 balls as Kingsmen were bowled out for 145.
Zalmi Stutter in Chase
Zalmi began their chase with positive intent, with Mohammad Haris providing a quick start and Kusal Mendis adding 27. Babar Azam anchored the innings with 43 off 37 balls, guiding the chase through the middle overs.
A 49-run partnership between Babar and Mendis kept Zalmi on course, but Kingsmen continued to strike at key moments. Mendis was dismissed by Saim Ayub, while Michael Bracewell contributed 25 before also falling, leaving Zalmi with work to do.
Late Drama in Final Overs
The chase took a dramatic turn in the closing stages. Babar was dismissed after reaching 43, while Farhan Yousaf and Abdul Samad departed in quick succession, increasing the pressure.
A tight 19th over from Hunain Shah left Zalmi needing 29 runs from the final two overs. Iftikhar Ahmed and Aamer Jamal were left to complete the task, facing disciplined bowling from Mohammad Ali and Hunain Shah.
Despite the pressure, Iftikhar found crucial boundaries, including a straight six that shifted momentum back in Zalmi’s favour. The match ultimately went down to the final ball, where Zalmi secured the winning run.
The result ensured Peshawar Zalmi maintained their unbeaten run, while Hyderabad Kingsmen remained without a win in their debut PSL campaign.
