Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi to a thrilling four-run victory over Mohammad Rizwan's Multan Sultans in a nail-biting Pakistan Super League (PSL) match at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, on Tuesday night, March 5. Despite Iftikhar Ahmed's stellar unbeaten half-century, Peshawar Zalmi managed to clinch a victory against the league leaders.
Babar Azam's blitz helps Zalmi post colossal total
Electing to bat first, Peshawar Zalmi posted a formidable total of 204-5. The team got off to a strong start thanks to Saim Ayub and Babar Azam, who forged an 84-run partnership for the opening wicket. The pair aggressively targeted Mohammad Ali in the third over, scoring 21 runs with three boundaries and a six. Continuing their assault, Ayub and Azam took advantage of the fielding restrictions, hitting boundaries freely and racking up 71 runs in the powerplay—the highest in the ongoing PSL season thus far.
Usama Mir gets Saim Ayub
Usama Mir, entering the fray in the seventh over, immediately felt the pressure with Ayub hitting two sixes in a row. However, Mir bounced back, dismissing Ayub (46 runs off 22 balls) with a leg-before wicket decision on the over's final delivery. Tom Kohler-Cadmore managed a brief stay, scoring 5 runs off 9 balls before being caught by Tayyab Tahir at deep midwicket, giving Usama his second wicket.
Haseebullah and Babar Azam then put together a 51-run partnership for the third wicket, ensuring at least one boundary per over. Babar reached his 85th T20 fifty in 35 balls during the 14th over. Usama struck again in the following over, bowling Babar out for 64 off 40 balls, which included seven fours and two sixes. Jordan claimed Haseebullah's wicket (31 off 20 balls) in the 17th over, leaving Zalmi at 166-4 at that point in their innings.
Rovman Powell (23 not out, 15 balls, 1 four, 2 sixes) and Aamir Jamal (12 runs, 5 balls, 1 four, 1 six) contributed vital unbeaten scores to propel Zalmi to a total of 204-5. Usama, who is the top wicket-taker in PSL 9, secured three wickets, elevating his season's wicket count to 18, while Jordan claimed two wickets. Saim led the bowling attack for Zalmi and conceded a four and a six to Mohammad Rizwan, who was aggressive from the start.
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Mehran Mumtaz strikes for Zalmi with the ball
In his PSL debut, Mehran Mumtaz claimed his first wicket by dismissing Reeza Hendricks for five runs in the fifth over, breaking the 35-run opening stand. By the end of the powerplay, the Sultans had scored 40 runs for the loss of one wicket. Jamal showcased his fielding prowess in the eighth over, running out Rizwan (32 runs, 24 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) at the non-striker's end. The following over saw Salman Irshad miss a catch at short third, denying Mehran a second wicket. Mehran concluded his spell with one wicket for 20 runs, after which Tayyab struck Salman for two fours in the next over.
In the twelfth over, Aamir took two wickets, further unsettling the Sultans; Dawid Malan was caught by Asif at deep backward square, and Saim caught Tayyab at deep square.
Sultans falls short of four runs
Khushdil was caught behind off Naveen's bowling in the sixteenth over, leading to Jordan joining the middle. The sixth-wicket partnership between Jordan and Iftikhar produced an explosive 75 runs off 28 balls, nearly steering Multan Sultans to victory but falling short by four runs.
Iftikhar reached his fifty in the second-last over, ending with an unbeaten 60 off 27 balls, including four fours and five sixes. Jordan contributed an unbeaten 20 from 12 balls, with three fours and two sixes. Mehran and Naveen each took a wicket, while Aamir claimed two victims.
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