Chasing a target of 155, Zalmi overhauled total with ease, finishing the game in 18.3 overs with only two wickets down, extending their strong run in the tournament
KARACHI: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-April 15th, 2026) A dominant all-round performance helped Peshawar Zalmi secure a commanding eight-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators in the 23rd match of HBL PSL 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 155, Zalmi overhauled the total with ease, finishing the game in 18.3 overs with only two wickets down, extending their strong run in the tournament.
The chase was built on a solid opening stand as Mohammad Haris and captain Babar Azam added 75 runs before Haris was dismissed for 35 off 28 balls, including five fours and a six.
Babar then anchored the innings, first sharing a 49-run partnership with Kusal Mendis (21), who fell in the 16th over, and later guiding the side home alongside Aaron Hardie. Hardie contributed an unbeaten 18 off 14 balls as the duo added an unbroken 32-run stand.
Babar remained unbeaten on 71 from 51 deliveries, striking 10 boundaries to lead his team to victory. For Quetta, Alzarri Joseph and captain Saud Shakeel picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, Zalmi’s decision to bowl first paid off as Quetta Gladiators were restricted to 154 all out in 20 overs after a shaky batting display.
Quetta lost early wickets, with opener Ahsan Ali dismissed for four and skipper Saud Shakeel managing only 16 off 13 balls before being run out. Rilee Rossouw top-scored in the middle order with 28 off 16 balls, while Hassan Nawaz added 37 from 35 deliveries.
However, the innings faltered in the middle overs as wickets fell at regular intervals, leaving Quetta struggling to build momentum.
Zalmi’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout, with Mohammad Amir and Abdul Samad Muqeem leading the attack, taking three wickets each. Iftikhar Ahmed also contributed with one wicket as Quetta’s lower order collapsed for just 34 runs in the final overs.
