Peshawar Zalmi beat Hyderabad Kingsmen by four wickets in PSL thriller

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by four wickets in a closely fought HBL PSL match at the National Stadium, with the result sealed on the final ball of the chase.

Set 146 for victory, Zalmi needed 14 runs in the last over. Iftikhar Ahmed, who played a decisive all-round role in the match, struck a four and a six in the over before Aamir Jamal collected the winning run off the final delivery.

Zalmi’s chase was anchored early by Babar Azam, who made 43 from 37 balls. The innings began with the loss of Muhammad Haaris in the second over, when he was dismissed by Thakshane for 11. After that setback, Babar and Kushal Mendis added 49 runs to keep Peshawar on course.

However, the chase tightened when Zalmi lost four wickets for 21 runs, allowing Kingsmen to push the contest deep. Iftikhar then held his nerve in the closing stages and, together with Jamal, guided the side through the pressure.

In the final over bowled by Hunain Shah, Iftikhar hit a boundary off the first ball and then struck a six off the fourth delivery. He finished unbeaten on 15, while Jamal remained not out on six as Zalmi reached the target.

Kingsmen post 145 after batting first

Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen batted first and were bowled out for 145. Kushal Pereira top-scored with 58, helping his side put together a total that kept them in the contest.

The defeat was Kingsmen’s fourth in a row.

Iftikhar and Sufyan make impact with the ball

Zalmi’s bowling effort was led by the spinners, with Iftikhar Ahmed and Sufyan Muqeem both making major contributions. The two bowlers obtained 8 wickets each, and both also removed three batters in a single over.

The match ultimately turned into a tense finish, but Zalmi managed to get over the line in the closing moments to complete a four-wicket win.

The result was shaped by contributions in both innings, with Pereira’s half-century giving Kingsmen a platform and Babar’s 43 helping steady Zalmi’s reply before Iftikhar and Jamal completed the chase under pressure.