Peshawar Zalmi delivered an impressive all-round performance to defeat Lahore Qalandars by seven wickets in the 14th match of PSL 10 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday. Alzarri Joseph’s brilliant bowling, combined with solid half-centuries from Babar Azam and Hussain Talat, helped Zalmi chase down the 130-run target with ease.
The visitors, chasing a modest target, lost early wickets but managed to reach their goal with 20 balls to spare, finishing on 131/3. Their chase got off to a rocky start as they lost both openers, Saim Ayub (2) and Tom Kohler Cadmore (0), with just seven runs on the board. However, Mohammad Haris (20 off 16 balls) and Babar Azam steadied the innings, adding 33 runs in 21 balls before Haris was dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Babar then teamed up with Hussain Talat for a match-winning partnership, finishing with an unbeaten 56 off 42 balls, including seven fours and one six. Talat supported him with an equally impressive 51 not out from 37 balls, which featured six boundaries and one six.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of the Qalandars’ bowlers, taking two wickets for 22 runs, while Haris Rauf picked up one wicket. Earlier, Zalmi’s bowling attack restricted Lahore Qalandars to 128 runs in 19.2 overs. Alzarri Joseph was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets for just 16 runs. Luke Wood and Hussain Talat took two wickets each, while Arif Yaqoob and Ali Raza picked up one wicket each.
Lahore Qalandars’ innings faltered early as Fakhar Zaman (10) was dismissed by Joseph in the second over. The Qalandars were in deep trouble at 35/5 by the end of the powerplay, and despite a late recovery from Sikandar Raza (52 off 36 balls), they couldn’t recover. Raza was the top scorer for Qalandars, but his efforts were not enough to turn the tide. Despite the win, Zalmi remain in fourth place in the standings with four points from five matches.
