Babar Azam’s brilliant 40-ball 64 edged Peshawar Zalmi to a four-run victory in a thriller against Multan Sultans in the 21st match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
– MULTAN SULTANS' INNINGS –
Chasing a total of 204-5, the Sultans could reach 200-5 with Iftikhar Ahmed remaining not out on a blinder 27-ball 60, smashing four boundaries and five sixes.
Chris Jordan had also compiled a 12-ball 30 with three boundaries and two sixes to his name.
Mohammad Rizwan looked good for his 24-ball 32 before he was run out.
Tayyab Tahir made an 18-ball 26.
Other batters, Reeza Hendricks (5), Dawid Malan (19), and Khushdil Shah (11) failed to show significant resistance with the bat.
For the Zalmi, Aamer Jamal took two wickets.
Mehran Mumtaz and Naveenul Haq picked up a wicket apiece.
– PESHAWAR ZALMI'S INNINGS –
Earlier, after opting to bat, the Zalmi were off to a flying start, with Babar Azam and Saim Ayub forming an 84-run partnership before Usama Mir removed Saim Ayub on a 22-ball 46.
Babar Azam played a brilliant innings and smashed seven fours and two sixes to put pressure on the opponents.
Haseebullah Khan showed some spark with the bat, scoring a 20-ball 31 with three boundaries and one six.
Asif Ali could merely score 10-ball 11.
Rovman Powell and Aamer Jamal remained unbeaten on 15-ball 23 and 5-ball 12, powering their team to a big 204-5 against the Sultans.
Only Usama Mir and Chris Jordan could provide the Sultans with breakthroughs.
Usama took three wickets, while Jordan picked up two wickets.
PLAYER OF MATCH
Peshawar Zalmi skipper Babar Azam bagged the player of the match award for his brilliant 64-run knock.
TOSS
Zalmi opted to bat first after winning the toss against Multan Sultans.
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To strengthen the team lineup, Peshawar Zalmi implemented four changes, welcoming Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Asif Ali, and Naveen-ul-Haq Zalmi into the fold.
