Babar remains top-scorer with 43 runs; Saim leads Hyderabad’s bowling with two wickets
Peshawar Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by four wickets in a tense low-scoring encounter of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Wednesday.
Zalmi successfully chased the 146-run target, losing six wickets in the process, with key contributions from skipper Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis.
The chase got off to a shaky start as opener Mohammad Haris was dismissed for 11 off 6 balls, having struck a four and a six, after attempting a loose shot off Maheesh Theekshana, leaving the team at 17-1 after 1.5 overs.
Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis steadied the innings with a vital partnership, taking the side past the 50-run mark and setting a solid platform for the chase.
The 49-run stand ended when Saim Ayub removed Mendis, who made 27 off 23 balls with one four and two sixes, leaving Zalmi at 66-2 after 8.2 overs.
Michael Bracewell then joined Babar at the crease, and the pair kept the scoreboard moving with another important partnership that pushed the total beyond 100 runs.
Saim struck again to pick up his second wicket, dismissing Bracewell for 25 off 19 deliveries, which included two fours and a six, breaking the 38-run stand and reducing Zalmi to 104-3 in 13.4 overs.
Babar Azam was dismissed on the last delivery of the 15th over, with Hassan Khan wrapping up his innings of 43 off 37 balls, which included six boundaries.
Zalmi then found themselves under pressure as Mohammad Ali sent back Farhan Yousaf for 15 off 13 balls, including two fours, before Hunain Shah removed Abdul Samad for just one run, leaving the team at 125-6 after 17.1 overs.
Chasing 14 runs in the final over, Zalmi stayed composed as Hunain Shah gave away the remaining runs, while Iftikhar Ahmed remained unbeaten on 15 off 10 balls, hitting a four and a six, and Aamer Jamal added six runs to complete the victory.
Iftikhar was declared Player of the Match for his exceptional all-round display, taking four wickets and scoring a crucial unbeaten 15 under pressure.
Earlier, the Kingsmen were bowled out for 145 in 18.2 overs. Their innings began steadily, with openers Maaz Sadaqat and Saim Ayub contributing useful runs at the top.
Babar Azam was dismissed on the last delivery of the 15th over, with Hassan Khan wrapping up his innings of 43 off 37 balls, which included six boundaries.
Zalmi then found themselves under pressure as Mohammad Ali sent back Farhan Yousaf for 15 off 13 balls, including two fours, before Hunain Shah removed Abdul Samad for just one run, leaving the team at 125-6 after 17.1 overs.
Chasing 14 runs in the final over, Zalmi stayed composed as Hunain Shah gave away the remaining runs, while Iftikhar Ahmed remained unbeaten on 15 off 10 balls, hitting a four and a six, and Aamer Jamal added six runs to complete the victory.
Iftikhar was declared Player of the Match for his exceptional all-round display, taking four wickets and scoring a crucial unbeaten 15 under pressure.
Earlier, the Kingsmen were bowled out for 145 in 18.2 overs. Their innings began steadily, with openers Maaz Sadaqat and Saim Ayub contributing useful runs at the top.
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