Half-centuries from Babar Azam and Maaz Sadaqat powered Peshawar Zalmi to a convincing victory over Islamabad United, handing the latter their second defeat in the ongoing Pakistan Super League.
Chasing a modest target of 144, Zalmi got off to an explosive start when Mitchell Owen launched a straight six off the very first ball of Kyle Mayers’ spell.
However, Mayers struck back immediately, dismissing Owen on the next delivery and bringing captain Babar Azam to the crease alongside Saim Ayub.
Ben Dwarshuis struck in the following over, removing Saim Ayub for just one, leaving Zalmi in early trouble at 12-2 after 1.2 overs.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris then added 26 runs for the third wicket before Haris was dismissed by Riley Meredith for 13 off 12 balls.
Zalmi found stability as Babar and debutant Maaz Sadaqat stitched together a crucial 50-run stand for the fourth wicket, taking the team to 93-3 by the end of the 12th over.
Maaz played a sensational knock in his first PSL outing, reaching a well-earned half-century and accelerating the chase alongside his captain.
Babar Azam also brought up his 35th PSL fifty in style, maintaining a solid anchor role throughout the innings.
With just four runs needed to win, Naseem Shah returned to the attack and broke the 100-run partnership by dismissing Maaz for a brilliant 55 off 33 balls.
However, Zalmi completed the chase in the 17th over, with Babar finishing unbeaten on 53 off 49 deliveries, and Max Bryant hitting the winning runs.
Earlier, Islamabad United posted a total of 143 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs, with a late fireworks from Ben Dwarshuis helping them recover after a batting collapse against Peshawar Zalmi.
Opting to bat first, Islamabad United made a promising start, with openers Sahibzada Farhan and Kyle Mayers providing early momentum.
The duo built a solid 50-run partnership, taking the attack to Zalmi’s bowlers with an aggressive approach.
However, Zalmi broke through after the powerplay when pacer Ahmed Daniyal dismissed Farhan for 36 off 35 balls, leaving United at 58-1 in 8.4 overs.
In the very next over, Mohammad Ali struck, removing Mayers for 18 off 18 deliveries, reducing Islamabad to 62-2 in 9.1 overs.
Zalmi continued to make inroads as spinner Saim Ayub removed Agha Salman, who managed just four off seven balls in the 11th over.
Captain Shadab Khan then looked to counterattack, hitting consecutive boundaries alongside Colin Munro as the pair added 22 runs for the fourth wicket.
However, both were dismissed in quick succession. Shadab scored 15 off 8 balls before being sent back, while Munro followed soon after for 11, leaving United at 89-4 in 12.5 overs.
Mohammad Ali continued his impressive spell by removing Saad Masood for just one run, completing a three-wicket haul and reducing United to 91-6 in 14 overs.
The collapse continued as Luke Wood dismissed Azam Khan for eight off seven balls, leaving the side struggling at 107-7 in 16.1 overs.
Imad Wasim and Ben Dwarshuis attempted to steady the innings with some crucial late runs, but their resistance didn’t last long.
A brilliant direct hit from Babar Azam ran out Imad for 10, bringing Islamabad down to 124-8 in the 18th over.
Zalmi’s tight bowling and sharp fielding ensured Islamabad couldn’t recover, eventually restricting them to a below-par 134-9.
Dwarshuis remained unbeaten with a vital 33 off 17 deliveries, while Naseem Shah contributed just one run before being dismissed on the final ball.
Earlier, Islamabad United won the toss and elected to bat first against Peshawar Zalmi in the 22nd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Squads
Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (C), Naseem Shah, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Jason Holder, Haider Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Ben Dwarshuis, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Andries Gous, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Irshad, Hunain Shah, Saad Masood, Kyle Mayers, Riley Meredith, Mohammad Faiq.
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (C), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Mohammad Haris, George Linde, Mohammad Ali, Hussain Talat, Nahid Rana, Abdul Samad, Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, Max Bryant, Najibullah Zadran, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, Ahmed Daniyal, Alzarri Joseph, Luke Wood.
