Babar Azam steers Peshawar Zalmi to eight-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi defeated Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets in their HBL Pakistan Super League match at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday, with captain Babar Azam making an unbeaten 71 as his side chased down a target of 156 with nine balls remaining.

The match was played behind closed doors, in line with government austerity measures that have seen all fixtures in the ongoing PSL season held without spectators.

Zalmi’s sixth successive victory kept the side unbeaten and left it virtually assured of a place in the playoffs, while Quetta remained fifth on the table with two wins from six matches.

Gladiators bowled out for 154

After being put in to bat, Quetta Gladiators were dismissed for 154 on the final ball of their innings. The side lost Ahsan Ali early for four when he was caught by Mohammad Haris off Iftikhar Ahmed. Captain Saud Shakeel then made 16 off 13 balls before being run out, leaving Quetta at 39-2.

Rilee Rossouw played a quick innings of 26 from 18 deliveries, hitting four boundaries. He struck Mohammad Basit for three successive fours before falling in the eighth over when he dragged a delivery from left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem onto his stumps.

Quetta continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Shamyl Hussain scored 12 before he was caught by Aaron Hardie off Sufiyan, while Khawaja Nafay made 20 off 13 balls, including a six, before he was trapped lbw by the same bowler.

Hasan Nawaz top-scored with 37 off 35 balls, but Quetta could not build the momentum needed in the later stages. He was caught behind by Kusal Mendis off Basit after attempting an attacking shot against a short ball. Tom Curran added 15, but the lower order was unable to lift the total further. Jahandad Khan and Alzarri Joseph fell in quick succession, and Usman Tariq was run out off the last ball of the innings.

Sufiyan returned figures of 3-25, while Basit also claimed three wickets. Iftikhar finished with 1-20 in a disciplined bowling performance by Zalmi.

Babar anchors the chase

In reply, Zalmi made a steady start through Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam, who added 75 for the opening wicket. Haris scored 35 off 28 balls, striking five fours and a six, before he was caught by Shamyl Hussain off Saud Shakeel in the ninth over.

Babar then continued to control the chase and brought up his third half-century of the season in 37 balls. He remained unbeaten on 71 and guided the innings with support from Kusal Mendis, who made 21 off 19 deliveries before falling to Alzarri Joseph.

Aaron Hardie contributed an unbeaten 18 as Zalmi reached 156-2 in 18.3 overs. Babar sealed the win with a boundary.

For Quetta, Alzarri Joseph and Saud Shakeel took one wicket each, but the bowling attack was unable to stop Zalmi from completing the chase comfortably.

Sufiyan Muqeem was named man of the match for his three-wicket spell.

Score summary

Quetta Gladiators 154 all out in 20 overs. Hasan Nawaz 37, Rilee Rossouw 26, Khawaja Nafay 20; Sufiyan Muqeem 3-25, Mohammad Basit 3-36, Iftikhar Ahmed 1-20.

Peshawar Zalmi 156-2 in 18.3 overs. Babar Azam 71 not out, Mohammad Haris 35, Kusal Mendis 21, Aaron Hardie 18 not out; Alzarri Joseph 1-32, Saud Shakeel 1-23.

Result: Peshawar Zalmi won by eight wickets.