In a thrilling encounter at the Gaddafi Stadium, Peshawar Zalmi secured their second victory in the ongoing PSL 9, defeating Lahore Qalandars by a narrow margin of eight runs. While Rassie van der Dussen’s valiant century for the Qalandars kept their hopes alive till the very end, a solid batting performance from Peshawar Zalmi, coupled with disciplined bowling, proved too much to overcome.
Qalandars’ Early Wobble Followed by van der Dussen’s Resurgence
Chasing a target of 212 runs, Lahore Qalandars suffered an early setback as they lost their opener, Sahibzada Farhan, in the third over. However, van der Dussen, entering the crease with intent, smashed consecutive boundaries to announce his arrival. Despite Fakhar Zaman’s early dismissal, van der Dussen found a reliable partner in Shai Hope, and the duo stitched together a crucial 71-run partnership.
Hope’s Dismissal Triggers Qalandars’ Slide
Salman Irshad provided the breakthrough for Zalmi, dismissing Hope for 29 runs. Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti joined van der Dussen in a 26-ball partnership, adding 55 runs to the scoreboard. However, Naveen-ul-Haq’s sharp bowling and a brilliant catch by Saim Ayub in the deep sent Ahsan back to the pavilion, putting the required run rate under pressure.
Rassie van der Dussen’s Century Goes in Vain as Zalmi Clinches Victory
Despite valiant efforts from Jahandad Khan and van der Dussen, who scored a magnificent unbeaten century (104 runs off 52 balls), Lahore Qalandars fell short of the target by eight runs. Naveen-ul-Haq emerged as the pick of the bowlers for Zalmi, claiming two wickets, while Luke Wood, Walter, and Salman Irshad chipped in with one wicket each.
Zalmi’s Dominant Batting Sets the Stage for Victory
Earlier, electing to bat first, Peshawar Zalmi openers Saim Ayub and Babar Azam laid a solid foundation with a 136-run partnership, the second-highest opening stand in PSL 9. Saim smashed a brilliant 88 runs off 55 balls, while Babar contributed 48 runs before Shaheen Shah Afridi provided the breakthrough.
Powell’s Quickfire Knock Bolsters Zalmi’s Total
Powell added a quickfire 46 runs off just 20 balls, while Mohammad Haris’ unbeaten cameo of 12 runs ensured Zalmi posted a formidable total of 211 runs on the board. Shaheen Shah Afridi was the most successful bowler for Qalandars, scalping three wickets, while Jahandad Khan claimed one wicket.
Zalmi’s clinical bowling attack, coupled with a strong batting performance from their openers and Powell, proved decisive in securing their second win of the season. While van der Dussen’s lone fight for Qalandars was commendable, it wasn’t enough to prevent them from suffering their fifth consecutive defeat in the tournament.
Scores in brief Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars:
Peshawar Zalmi 211-4, 20 overs (Saim Ayub 88, Babar Azam 48, Rovman Powell 46; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-33)
Lahore Qalandars 203-6, 20 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 104 not out, Shai Hope 29; Naveen-ul-Haq 2-50)
Result: Peshawar Zalmi beat Lahore Qalandars by eight runs
Player of the match: Saim Ayub (Peshawar Zalmi)
Tomorrow’s fixture: Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (7 pm)
