KARACHI: A sparkling half-century from Kusal Mendis, combined with a composed knock from captain Babar Azam, propelled Peshawar Zalmi to a respectable 173-7 against Lahore Qalandars during Saturday’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 encounter at the National Bank Stadium.
Openers provide early spark
Opting to bat first, Zalmi enjoyed a lively start. Openers Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam set an aggressive tone with fluent stroke play. Haris injected early energy into the innings, but Shaheen Afridi struck on the very first ball of his second over, removing Haris for an 10-ball 18 that included two boundaries and a six.
𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐐𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞: 𝟏𝟕𝟒 🎯#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvLQ pic.twitter.com/Klu8V1ZDcG
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 11, 2026
Key partnership shifts momentum
Following the early wicket, Babar joined forces with Kusal Mendis to steady the ship. The duo built a calm yet effective partnership, effortlessly pushing Zalmi past the 50-run mark and gradually tilting the game in their favor.
Mendis looked in sublime form, dismantling the Qalandars’ bowling attack while registering his second consecutive half-century of PSL 11. At the other end, Babar played the anchor role with maturity, helping the pair surpass the 100-run stand. Their 109-run partnership was a masterclass in control, timing, and resilience under pressure.
Double strikes break the backbone
The stand finally ended when Usama Mir dismissed Babar for 43 off 40 balls (three fours and a six), leaving Zalmi at 127-2 after 15.2 overs.
Michael Bracewell then chipped in with useful runs to push the score past 150, but Shaheen Afridi returned to remove the dangerous Mendis for a magnificent 74 off 48 deliveries—an innings decorated with five fours and four sixes.
Ubaid Shah compounded Zalmi’s troubles by sending back Abdul Samad for just two, reducing the side to 153-4 in 17.3 overs.
Shaheen brings an end to Kusal Mendis’ stay at the crease 🦅#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvLQ pic.twitter.com/cyYepwOt1P
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 11, 2026
Late flourish and final over wickets
Mustafizur Rahman then accounted for Bracewell, who had smashed a brisk 21 off 10 balls (one four, two sixes). Shaheen Afridi came back for the final over to claim his third scalp, dismissing young Farhan Yousaf for two.
Zalmi’s innings concluded with Iftikhar Ahmed unbeaten on seven and Sufiyan Muqeem on one, as they finished at 173-7 after 20 overs.
