PSL 2023: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub wreak havoc on Qalandars

Peshawar Zalmi delivered an electrifying performance on Tuesday, crushing Lahore Qalandars by 35 runs in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

The Zalmi won the toss and decided to bat first against Qalandars, and it proved to be a wise decision.

Zalmi’s opening pair, Babar Azam and Saim Ayub, wreaked havoc on the Qalandars’ bowling attack, scoring an impressive 107 runs in just 66 balls.

Ayub was in top form and hit some breathtaking shots to all parts of the ground, smashing eight fours and three sixes to reach his fifty in just 26 balls.

The 20-year-old left-hander recorded his third half-century of the tournament and made the most of the field restrictions in the first six overs, scoring a rapid 43 in 24 balls to give Peshawar Zalmi a strong platform.

Babar Azam played the supporting role with a solid 41-ball 50, and the pair recorded a sparkling 107-run opening partnership.

Rashid Khan managed to break the partnership by dismissing Ayub in the 11th over, followed by Mohammad Haris, who fell to a top-edged sweep to Sikandar Raza in the next over.

Peshawar Zalmi looked set to post a mammoth total, but Lahore Qalandars made a decent comeback in the death overs, restricting them to 207 all out with three balls left in the innings.

For Lahore, Tom Kohler-Cadmore came out swinging, smashing three sixes and two fours in his quickfire 16-ball 36 before Haris Rauf sent him back in the 18th over.

But it was Shaheen who truly stole the show, with his explosive 36-ball 52 that included five sixes and three fours.

However, even his heroic efforts couldn’t save the Lahore Qalandars from a disastrous start to their run chase.

The Powerplay was a nightmare for the Qalandars, as Wahab Riaz proved why he is the most successful HBL PSL bowler with a double-wicket maiden.

Fakhar Zaman and Sam Billings fell to his deadly left-arm pace in consecutive deliveries in the fifth over, leaving Lahore Qalandars reeling at four down for just 21 runs. And things only got worse from there.

Abdullah Shafique mistimed the ball in the next over, gifting Rovman Powell a fabulous catch at mid-off. And Shawaiz Irfan, making his debut for Lahore Qalandars, played on off Arshad Iqbal in the very first over. Ouch!

Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Hussain Talat and Shaheen launched a stunning counterattack that had the crowd on their feet.

The duo smashed the ball all over the park, amassing a massive 114-run partnership off just 65 balls.

Shaheen was eventually caught behind off Wahab, but not before he had smashed five sixes and three fours in his electrifying innings.

Sikandar came in next, and he wasn’t about to let Wahab off the hook.

He whipped the left-arm pacer for a boundary on the very first ball and dispatched him for a towering six on the next. But his brave effort would come to an end soon after, as he was dismissed on the last ball of the 18th over after making a quickfire 20 off just seven deliveries.

Hussain continued to battle on, smashing five sixes and four fours in his blistering knock of 63 off 37 balls.

But he too fell in the 19th over to Arshad, and the Lahore Qalandars were eventually bowled out for 172 with just two balls to spare.

Arshad and Wahab finished with three wickets each for 27 and 17 runs respectively, while Azamatullah Omarzai returned two for 40.

Despite the loss, the Qalandars can take some solace in the fact that they currently lead the points table and have already qualified for the PSL 8 playoffs.

The defending champions have 12 points after seven games, while the Zalmi are fourth on the table with six points after four games. But a win for the Babar Azam-led team today increases their chances of making the playoffs significantly.

Scores