Summary Babar Azam’s century and a ruthless bowling display power Peshawar Zalmi to a 118-run win over Quetta Gladiators in PSL 11.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – A commanding all-round performance led by Babar Azam sealed a comprehensive 118-run victory for Peshawar Zalmi over Quetta Gladiators in the 29th match of Pakistan Super League Season 11 at National Bank Stadium on Sunday.
After piling up a daunting 255 for three, Zalmi’s disciplined bowling unit dismantled Quetta for 137 in 18.1 overs to secure one of the most emphatic wins of the tournament.
Chasing a steep 256-run target, Quetta never found momentum against a relentless Zalmi attack. Middle-order batter Bevon Jacobs offered resistance with a fighting 34 off 27 deliveries, while opener Shamyl Hussain made 21. Contributions from Dinesh Chandimal and Alzarri Joseph, both scoring 19, along with skipper Saud Shakeel’s 12, were not enough to mount a serious challenge.
The Gladiators’ batting line-up faltered under pressure, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Mohammad Basit and Ali Raza led the charge with three wickets apiece, breaking the backbone of the chase. Aaron Hardie supported with two scalps, while Sufiyan Muqeem and Michael Bracewell chipped in with one each as Quetta were bowled out well short of the target.
Earlier, Zalmi’s innings was defined by a dominant display from their top order after being put in to bat. A quickfire start from Mohammad Haris, who struck 16, set the tone before Joseph struck early to provide a breakthrough.
The innings was then shaped by a monumental 135-run partnership between Babar and Kusal Mendis. The duo controlled proceedings with calculated aggression, both reaching half-centuries as the Gladiators struggled to contain the flow of runs.
Mendis’ 83 off 44 balls, featuring 10 fours and three sixes, laid the platform for a massive total before he was dismissed by Usman Tariq in the 15th over. Babar, however, remained unfazed, continuing to anchor the innings.
Following Mendis’ departure, Babar found support from Farhan Yousaf, who added a brisk 19, before combining with Hardie for an unbeaten 66-run stand to finish strongly.
Babar brought up his third PSL century on the final delivery of the innings, remaining unbeaten on 100 off 52 balls, an innings that included six fours and four sixes. Hardie’s late cameo of 26 from 10 deliveries, punctuated by three sixes, further lifted Zalmi to 255 for three in their allotted 20 overs.
For Quetta, Abrar Ahmed, Joseph and Usman Tariq claimed one wicket each, but the damage had already been done.
Babar Azam was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten century, which anchored Zalmi’s imposing total and set up a dominant victory.
