Peshawar Zalmi crashed out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL X) after a clinical Lahore Qalandars side defeated them by 26 runs in the 29th match of the tournament at Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
Lahore Qalandars posted a target of 150 runs, powered by an explosive effort from Fakhar Zaman. Peshawar Zalmi, in response, failed to chase the total and finished on 123 for eight in 13 overs.
Salman Mirza starred with the ball, claiming four crucial wickets, including that of Saim Ayub, who was dismissed hit wicket after scoring 87 off 76 balls. Mohammad Haris contributed eight runs before falling to Mirza. Captain Babar Azam added 16 runs before Sikandar Raza removed him with a well-judged catch by Abdullah Shafique.
Max Bryant was dismissed for a duck, bowled by Mirza. Maaz Sadaqat scored four runs before he fell to Haris Rauf. Abdul Samad made 17 before Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed him. Daniel Sams top-scored among the lower order with an unbeaten 26. Luke Wood and Ahmed Daniyal fell cheaply, while Mohammad Ali remained unbeaten on four.
Zalmi ended with 123 for eight. Lahore's all-round bowling performance sealed their place in the playoffs, while Peshawar bowed out of the tournament. Earlier, Lahore Qalandars posted a formidable total of 149 for 8, as top-order batter Fakhar Zaman dominated early proceedings with a fluent 60 from 36 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries and three towering sixes in a rain-hit contest of the PSL X at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
A floodlit contest under shortened rules unfolded at 9:50 pm, after Peshawar Zalmi won the toss at 9:30 pm and elected to field first against Lahore Qalandars. The match, shortened to 13 overs per side, imposed tactical limits: only three bowlers could deliver a maximum of three overs each, and two bowlers were restricted to a maximum of two overs each. The powerplay concluded at the end of the fourth over.
The Qalandars’ start was explosive. Mohammad Naeem dispatched 22 from only 10 balls before offering a catch to Abdul Samad off Sams’ bowling. Abdullah Shafique contributed a brief 5 before being dismissed by Ali Raza, who went on to remove Sikandar Raza as well, caught behind by Mohammad Haris.
Wicketkeeper Kusal Perera, representing Lahore Qalandars, added 17 before he was run out due to sharp fielding by Haris. Asif Ali’s cameo of 18 from 6 balls lifted the run rate until he succumbed to a mistimed aerial shot off Ahmed Daniyal. The same over delivered a double blow as Shakib Al Hasan was bowled for a golden duck by Daniyal, misjudging a slower delivery.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added 8 not out, which included a six off Luke Wood, while Haris Rauf was run out on the final ball after attempting a desperate single, thanks to Haris’ swift glove work and Wood’s accurate throw at the stumps.
Lahore Qalandars’ innings ended with a total of 149 for 8, helped along by 13 extras. Their run rate stood at an impressive 11.46 across the allotted 13 overs. The pitch supported aggressive strokeplay, but Zalmi’s bowling unit held firm at crucial moments.
Daniel Sams, Ahmed Daniyal, and Ali Raza claimed two wickets each, while Wood, Mohammad Ali, and Saim Ayub went wicketless despite facing heavy onslaughts. Daniyal proved the most economical with figures of 3 overs for 22 runs.
With Lahore Qalandars setting a target of 150, the stage was prepared for Peshawar Zalmi to chase under high tension and strict over constraints.
