Chasing 183, Zalmi got off to a solid start through James Vince and skipper Babar Azam, who put together a fluent opening stand of 37 runs
PESHAWAR: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-April 22nd, 2026) Peshawar Zalmi registered a dominant win over Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, successfully chasing 183 runs with 7 balls to spare and losing only three wickets.
Zalmi’s victory was built on outstanding half-centuries from Kusal Mendis and Farhan Yousaf, while Ali Raza produced a brilliant four-wicket spell to restrict Karachi Kings earlier in the match.
Chasing 183, Zalmi got off to a solid start through James Vince and skipper Babar Azam, who put together a fluent opening stand of 37 runs. Hasan Ali broke the partnership by removing Vince for 16 off 10 balls. Soon after, Abbas Afridi dismissed Babar Azam for 25 off 19 deliveries, leaving Zalmi at 45-2.
Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with a composed and aggressive approach, bringing up his fourth PSL half-century. Zalmi slipped further when Aaron Hardie dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed for five, reducing them to 95-3.
Mendis then joined hands with Farhan Yousaf, and the pair stitched together a crucial 50-run partnership to stabilize the chase. Farhan accelerated the scoring in the latter stages, ensuring Zalmi remained in control.
Farhan Yousaf remained unbeaten on 54 off 35 balls, striking four fours and three sixes, while Mendis top-scored with a brilliant 80 off 43 deliveries, including five boundaries and four sixes. Mendis was later named Player of the Match for his match-winning performance.
Earlier, Karachi Kings posted 182-9 in their 20 overs, with Jason Roy leading the batting effort with a strong 85 off 51 balls. Azam Khan contributed a quick 35 off 19 deliveries, while other batters provided brief support.
Karachi started steadily with David Warner and Jason Roy putting on 35 runs before Ali Raza struck by dismissing Warner for 11. Salman Ali Agha and Roy added further runs before wickets fell at regular intervals, restricting momentum.
Roy and Azam Khan built a 63-run partnership to push the total past 150, but Ali Raza’s late breakthrough proved decisive. In a remarkable final over, he claimed a hat-trick, removing Shahid Aziz, Hasan Ali, and involving a run-out, finishing with figures of four wickets.
Zalmi’s clinical chase and Raza’s bowling brilliance ensured a comprehensive win, keeping their unbeaten run in the tournament intact.
Teams:
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), James Vince, Kusal Mendis (wk), Farhan Yousuf, Michael Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Aaron Hardie, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Basit Ali, Ali Raza
Karachi Kings: David Warner (c), Jason Roy, Salman Ali Agha, Reeza Hendricks, Azam Khan (wk), Moeen Ali, Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi, Shahid Aziz, Hassan Ali, Zahid Mehmood
