Clinical Zalmi crush Gladiators as Babar and Muqeem direct masterclass
By Nawaz Gohar ; Peshawar Zalmi outclassed Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets in the 23rd fixture of HBL PSL 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday. A disciplined bowling effort led by young sensation Sufiyan Muqeem was followed by a vintage unbeaten half-century from Babar Azam, ensuring Zalmi remained the undisputed force of the evening.
Chasing a modest target of 155, Peshawar Zalmi made a statement of intent from the outset. Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam dismantled the Gladiators’ opening burst with a blistering 75-run stand in just 8.4 overs. Haris donned the role of the primary aggressor, dispatching five boundaries and a towering six in a rapid 28-ball 35, effectively demoralizing the Quetta bowling attack.
Following Haris’s departure, the in-form Kusal Mendis joined forces with his skipper. The duo orchestrated a measured 49-run partnership, effectively batting Quetta out of the contest. While Mendis (21 off 19) eventually fell to a catch, the damage was already done. Babar Azam remained the North Star of the innings, finishing with a flourish. The Zalmi captain top-scored with a sublime 71 off 51 deliveries*, lacing his knock with 10 signature boundaries. Aaron Hardie (18*) provided the final touches as Zalmi crossed the finish line in 18.3 overs with eight wickets to spare.
Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi’s decision to bowl first paid immediate dividends. The Gladiators’ top order crumbled under relentless pressure, eventually being bundled out for 154 on the final ball of the innings.
The collapse began in the very first over when opener Ahsan Ali fell for a mere four runs. Despite a brief 35-run recovery between Saud Shakeel and Rilee Rossouw, the momentum shifted decisively when Saud (16) was caught short of his crease in a disastrous run-out.
The middle overs belonged entirely to Sufiyan Muqeem. The crafty spinner deceived Rossouw (26) with a beauty that rattled the timber and removed Shamyl Hussain (12) shortly after. At 86-4, Quetta looked devoid of answers. Hassan Nawaz provided a solitary spark of resistance, top-scoring with 37 off 35 balls, but his departure triggered a final slide.
The duo of Sufiyan Muqeem and pacer Mohammad Basit proved lethal, sharing six wickets between them to stifle the run flow. Their ability to “squeeze” the Gladiators in the death overs ensured that Quetta never reached a par score on what appeared to be a shifting Karachi surface. For Quetta, Alzarri Joseph and Saud Shakeel managed a solitary wicket each, but lacked the defensive total required to challenge a rampant Zalmi side.
Match Summary:
Quetta Gladiators: 154 all out (Hassan Nawaz 37, Rilee Rossouw 26; Sufiyan Muqeem 3-21, Mohammad Basit 3-28) lost to Peshawar Zalmi: 158-2 in 18.3 overs (Babar Azam 71*, Mohammad Haris 35; Saud Shakeel 1-15)
Result: Peshawar Zalmi won by 8 wickets.
