A brilliant all-round performance led by Kusal Mendis and a strong spin bowling attack powered Peshawar Zalmi to a convincing victory over Multan Sultans in PSL 11 at Karachi.
Batting first, Zalmi posted an imposing total of 196 runs, thanks to a superb knock by Kusal Mendis, who scored a quickfire 68 off 40 balls. His innings included elegant boundaries and crucial partnerships that helped stabilize the innings during the middle overs. Earlier, Mohammad Haris gave Zalmi a flying start with an explosive 40 off 17 balls, putting early pressure on the opposition.
Despite a modest contribution from Babar Azam, Zalmi maintained momentum through partnerships, especially between Mendis and Farhan Yousaf. Late contributions from Iftikhar Ahmed added valuable runs, pushing the total close to 200.
In response, Multan Sultans struggled to keep up with the required run rate. Their chase of 197 runs never fully gained control, as early wickets disrupted their momentum. A brief partnership between Steve Smith and Josh Philippe gave some hope, but it was quickly dismantled by Zalmi’s disciplined bowling.
The turning point came through Sufiyan Muqeem, who delivered a match-winning spell, taking three crucial wickets. He was well supported by Iftikhar Ahmed and Nahid Rana, both claiming two wickets each. Their combined effort ensured that Sultans were restricted to 172 for 8, falling short by a significant margin.
Although Shan Masood tried to anchor the innings with a fighting 35 runs, the lack of sustained partnerships cost the Sultans dearly. Zalmi’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout, leaving no room for a comeback.
With this win, Zalmi secured their fifth victory in six matches, strengthening their position in the tournament. Sufiyan Muqeem was deservedly named Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance, which proved decisive in sealing the win.
