Summary Peshawar Zalmi post a commanding 199 for 4 against Lahore Qalandars after a dominant middle-order display in PSL 11 clash.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Peshawar Zalmi produced a powerful batting performance to post 199 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs against Lahore Qalandars in the 38th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Saturday.
After being put in to bat by Lahore skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zalmi recovered from early setbacks to build a commanding total, driven by a scintillating knock from Michael Bracewell and a composed half-century by captain Babar Azam.
Zalmi’s innings began with a brief flourish before Lahore’s pace attack made early inroads. James Vince was dismissed for 10 off seven balls, falling to Afridi, while Kusal Mendis followed soon after for seven, also picked up by the left-arm quick.
With two wickets down inside the powerplay, pressure mounted on Zalmi’s top order. However, Babar Azam anchored the innings with calculated precision, rotating strike effectively while keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Babar compiled a steady 59 off 45 deliveries, holding the innings together during a crucial phase. His knock featured controlled strokeplay rather than outright aggression, ensuring Zalmi did not lose momentum despite the early breakthroughs.
He eventually fell to Haris Rauf, who provided Lahore with a much-needed breakthrough in the middle overs. By that stage, however, the platform had been set for an aggressive finish.
Michael Bracewell then took charge in emphatic fashion, producing one of the most explosive innings of the tournament. The New Zealand all-rounder smashed 83 off just 45 balls, striking eight fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 184.
Bracewell targeted both pace and spin, accelerating sharply in the latter half of the innings. His calculated assault shifted the momentum firmly in Zalmi’s favour, turning a competitive total into a daunting one.
In the closing overs, Iftikhar Ahmed added further impetus with an unbeaten 27 from 14 balls, while Abdul Samad chipped in with a quick four not out off two deliveries. Their late surge ensured Zalmi finished strongly, extracting maximum value from the final overs.
Lahore’s bowling effort saw Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi claim two wickets each, but the attack struggled to contain the flow of runs during the death overs as Zalmi accelerated.
The innings comes in a high-stakes fixture for Lahore Qalandars, who entered the contest needing a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. In contrast, Zalmi arrived unbeaten in their last five matches and already assured of a top finish with 17 points from nine games.
Earlier, Lahore won the toss and opted to field first, with Afridi emphasising the need for his side to fight until the final ball. Zalmi captain Babar Azam, meanwhile, had underlined his team’s intent to maintain their winning momentum.
