Peshawar Zalmi pulled off a Zalmi record win on Saturday night, thrashing Multan Sultans by a staggering 120 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. It was the largest margin of victory in HBL PSL history, powered by explosive batting and a ruthless bowling display.
Early Collapse, Explosive Comeback
Zalmi had a shaky start, slipping to 5-2 in the third over. Skipper Babar Azam managed just two runs before falling to David Willey. Saim Ayub followed shortly after, dismissed cheaply by Michael Bracewell. But the early collapse didn’t rattle Zalmi for long.
Mohammad Haris turned the momentum with an aggressive 45 off 21 balls. He smashed four boundaries and three sixes, setting the tone for a counter-attack. Partnering with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who fired a 30-ball 52, the duo stitched a 79-run partnership off just 33 deliveries, shifting control back in Zalmi’s favor.
Fireworks in the Death Overs
Middle-order contributions from Hussain Talat (37 off 29) kept the scoreboard ticking. However, it was the carnage in the final overs that blew the game wide open. Abdul Samad launched a stunning assault with a 14-ball 40, blasting four fours and three sixes. He was well-supported by Mitchell Owen, who added 34 from just 15 balls, including four massive sixes.
Though Ubaid Shah dismissed Samad in the final over, the damage had already been done. Zalmi finished with a mammoth 227-7 in 20 overs. Bracewell, Willey, and Shah shared two wickets each for the Sultans.
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Sultans Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing a record target, Multan Sultans stumbled early. Captain Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed by Saim Ayub in the fourth over, dealing a major blow to the chase. Ali Raza then took center stage, dismantling the middle order with a fiery spell.
In the 10th over, Ali struck twice in two deliveries, removing Bracewell and Ashton Turner. He finished with 4-21 in a sensational four-over spell. Arif Yaqoob added to the misery with 3-20, while Mitchell Owen claimed two wickets in just five deliveries.
Multan Sultans were bundled out for 107 in 15.5 overs. Usman Khan was the lone bright spot, scoring a brisk 44 off 22 balls with four boundaries and three sixes. Shai Hope chipped in with 20 runs, but it wasn’t enough to steer the team anywhere close to the target.
Star of the Night
Abdul Samad was named Player of the Match for his explosive knock that lifted Zalmi beyond the 200-run mark. His innings played a crucial role in setting up the historic win.
With this commanding performance, Peshawar Zalmi marked their first victory of HBL PSL X in spectacular fashion, setting the tone for the rest of the tournament. Their next challenge will be maintaining this momentum as the league progresses.
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