Islamabad United delivered a stunning all-round performance to thrash Peshawar Zalmi by 102 runs in a one-sided Pakistan Super League (PSL) clash. This marked Islamabad’s second win of the season, while Peshawar suffered their second consecutive defeat.
Batting first, Islamabad United set a mammoth target, piling up 243 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. The star of the innings was Sahibzada Farhan, who played a breathtaking knock of 106 runs off just 52 balls, anchoring the innings with power and precision.
In reply, Peshawar Zalmi faltered under pressure and were bowled out for just 141 runs, falling short by a massive margin of 102 runs. Eight of Zalmi's batters failed to reach double figures as the top and middle order collapsed under Islamabad’s disciplined bowling attack.
Only Mohammad Haris showed resistance, scoring a fighting 87 runs, but his lone effort was not enough to challenge Islamabad’s massive total.
From the bowling side, Imad Wasim starred with the ball, taking 3 wickets, while Shadab Khan and Ben Dwarshuis picked up 2 wickets each, effectively dismantling Zalmi’s batting lineup.
Babar Azam admits team shortcomings
Speaking after the match, Zalmi captain Babar Azam acknowledged the team's poor performance and the need to regroup quickly.
“We were not able to implement our plans. When the target is big, sometimes pressure comes in. But there are still many matches left, and we will try to improve our performance,” he said.
Babar remained optimistic about making a comeback in the upcoming fixtures, promising that the team will address its shortcomings and bounce back stronger.
