Peshawar Zalmi extended their unbeaten streak in Pakistan Super League season 11 with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Karachi Kings at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, propelled by a masterful batting display from Kusal Mendis and a sensational bowling spell from Ali Raza.
Chasing a competitive target of 183, Zalmi reached 183-3 in just 17.5 overs, largely thanks to an unbroken 119-run partnership between Mendis and Farhan Yousaf. Mendis, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, continued his scintillating form with an unbeaten 80 off 43 balls, striking four sixes and five boundaries. Yousaf provided perfect support, scoring his maiden PSL half-century with 58 off 36 deliveries.
The chase began shakily as Zalmi lost both openers—James Vince (16) and captain Babar Azam (25)—in quick succession. When Aaron Hardie fell to Khushdil Shah with the score at 67-3 in the 8th over, Karachi appeared to have gained the upper hand. However, Mendis and Yousaf launched a stunning counterattack, particularly in the final five overs, dismantling the Kings’ bowling attack with calculated aggression.
Earlier, Karachi Kings’ innings was defined by two contrasting halves. Opener Jason Roy anchored the first with a fluent 85 off 51 balls, featuring 11 fours and two sixes. After captain David Warner fell early for 11, Roy built partnerships with Salman Ali Agha (36 runs) and Reeza Hendricks (27 runs) before combining explosively with Azam Khan, adding 63 runs in just 32 deliveries.
The momentum shifted dramatically when Azam Khan was dismissed for 35 off 19 balls by Iftikhar Ahmed. Roy followed soon after, and the innings collapsed from 161-4 to 182-9. The destruction was spearheaded by seamer Ali Raza, who claimed the first hat-trick of PSL 11 during the death overs, finishing with figures of 4-38. His spell included the wickets of Hasan Ali, Abbas Afridi, and Mir Hamza in consecutive deliveries.
This victory marks Zalmi’s eighth consecutive win this season, solidifying their position at the top of the PSL 2026 points table. Karachi Kings, despite Roy’s efforts, suffered another setback in their campaign. The match highlighted the growing dominance of Peshawar’s balanced squad, combining explosive batting with clinical bowling at crucial moments.
The Pakistan Super League, now in its eleventh season, continues to be a premier platform for showcasing T20 cricket talent from Pakistan and around the world, with this match providing another thrilling chapter in the tournament’s history.
Source: ARY News