Saim Ayub’s blazing 55-ball 88 and captain Babar Azam’s circumspect 36-ball 48 powered Peshawar Zalmi against Lahore Qalandars in the 12th match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Sunday.
LAHORE QALANDARS' INNINGS
Chasing an insurmountable 212-run total, it was never going to be easy for the Qalandars because of the kind of run, they had in their previous four outings.
Sahibzada Farhan, who was in sublime form and provided impetus to the Qalandars’ innings against the Kings, could not repeat the same performance.
He compiled 12-ball 15, studding with three boundaries, before he was removed by Naveenul Haq.
Fakhar Zaman (4 off eight deliveries) once again failed to show any resistance with the bat and was befuddled by Luke Wood.
After facing an early hiccup, the only player, who showed unwavering commitment with the bat for the Qalandars, was South African Rassie van der Dussen, who racked up a brilliant and enterprising ton, scoring an unbeaten 52-ball 104, creaming seven boundaries and six maximums.
But he still needed some support from the other end. Only Shai Hope (29 off 23) and Ahsan Hafeez (20 off 13) showed some resistance with the bat. Hope was flummoxed by Salman Irshad, while Naveenul Haq removed Ahsan Hafeez.
Jahandad Khan was preferred over Sikandar Raza Butt and Carlos Brathwaite (6 off 2).
But Jahandad could only compile 9-ball 13, smashing three boundaries before he was removed by Walter.
Sikandar Raza could not launch a big shot and was run out by Saim Ayub and Haseebullah Khan on run-a-ball 1.
Carlos Braithwaite, who was not being promoted by the Qalandars, faced two deliveries and clobbered a six in the last ball to complete the game.
For the Zalmi, Naveenul Haq (2-50) bagged two wickets, but went for 50 runs in his four overs.
Luke Wood (1-46), Paul Walter (1-41) and Salman Irshad (1-39) grabbed a wicket apiece.
Arif Yaqoob (0-21) remained wicketless.
PESHAWAR ZALMI'S INNINGS
After being put into bat, the visitors posted 211-4, courtesy of the brilliance shown by their openers. Both Ayub and Babar were off to an exceptional start and treated the Qalandars’ star-studded bowling attack with utter contempt. But the only highlight of the bowling for the Qalandars was captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who bowled exceptionally well.
The Zalmi openers stitched up a 136-run partnership off 86 deliveries, which is the fifth highest partnership by their team against opposition in the history of the domestic marquee tournament.
It was Shaheen Shah Afridi who broke a stand between Babar Azam and Saim Ayub, by removing Babar Azam on 48 (36), lacing with five boundaries. But Rovman Powell was given the responsibility to treat the Qalandars with great aplomb.
Ayub and Powell stitched a 39-run partnership off just 17 deliveries, before Saim was flummoxed by Ayub on 55-ball 88, whacking eight boundaries and four towering sixes.
Asif Ali (6 off 3 deliveries), who is known for his power-hitting abilities, could only whack one six, before he was perplexed by Shaheen.
Mohammad Haris, to whom fans want to chip in with runs, remained unbeaten on 5-ball 12, whacking one boundary and one six.
It was an important 28-run partnership off 13 deliveries that Powell racked up with Haris, before the former was dismissed by Jahandad Khan.
Paul Walter also remained unconquered on 1-ball 2.
For the Qalandars, it was only Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-33) who showed bowling brilliance, scooping up three key wickets of Babar, Ayub and Asif.
Jahandad Khan took a scalp, though he conceded 22 runs in two overs.
Zaman Khan (0-48) was creamed for runs after a fine performance in his last outing against the Karachi Kings. He conceded 48 runs and remained wicketless in his four overs.
Ahsan Hafeez (0-11), Mohammad Imran (0-41), Sikandar Raza (0-20) and Carlos Brathwaite (0-34) could not fill the wickets’ column.
PLAYER OF MATCH
Saim Ayub (88 off 55 balls)
TOSS
The Qalandars opted to bowl first against the Zalmi.
Peshawar Zalmi: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Haseebullah Khan, Rovman Powell, Paul Walter, Asif Ali, Luke Wood, Naveen-ul-Haq, Arif Yaqoob, Salman Irshad
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Rassie van der Dussen, Shai Hope (wk), Sikandar Raza, Ahsan Bhatti, Carlos Brathwaite, Jahandad Khan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Mohammad Imran, Zaman Khan
