By Alam Zeb Safi
KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi extended their dominance at the top of the HBL PSL 11 points table on Monday, securing their fifth victory with a 24-run win over Multan Sultans at the National Stadium.
Kusal Mendis anchored the Zalmi innings with a blistering 68, while a disciplined bowling performance led by Sufiyan Muqeem ensured Multan remained at arm’s length throughout a high-scoring chase. The win took Zalmi to 11 points from six matches, widening the gap at the summit over second-placed Sultans, who remain on eight points.
Set to chase 197, Multan Sultans struggled to maintain the required run rate despite several batsmen getting settled down. Sahibzada Farhan fell early for 17, but Steven Smith (31) and Josh Philippe (32) briefly revived the chase with a 55-run partnership for the second wicket. Philippe was particularly aggressive, hitting six boundaries before being trapped lbw by Sufiyan Muqeem, a decision upheld after a DRS review.
The middle order failed to capitalize on the platform. Captain Ashton Turner contributed 20 and Shan Masood top-scored for the Sultans with 35 off 19 balls (5 fours) but the spin of Sufiyan (3-30) and the clinical pace of Nahid Rana (2-24) proved too much. Sufiyan removed both big wickets of Steven Smith and Josh Philippe in one over which put Zalmi in control.
Zalmi’s bowlers tightened the screws in the final overs with Nahid Rana (2-24), Shoriful Islam (0-27) and Iftikhar Ahmed (2-32) ensuring Sultans ended their 20 overs at 172-8, well short of the target.
Earlier a blistering fifty from Kusal Mendis and an early onslaught by Mohammad Haris propelled Peshawar Zalmi to a formidable total of 196-6.
Opting to field first, Sultans were immediately put on the back foot as Haris ignited the innings with a flurry of boundaries. The opener smashed 38 off just 17 deliveries, a cameo featuring four boundaries and three sixes, ensuring Zalmi made the most of the early overs. He shared an explosive 48-run opening stand with captain Babar Azam before falling to veteran seamer Peter Siddle in the fifth over.
Babar Azam played a more subdued role, scoring 18 off 20 balls with a single six, but his dismissal in the eighth over left Zalmi at 72-2. However, Mendis took charge of the middle overs, anchoring the innings with a well-paced 68 off 40 balls. His knock was punctuated by six fours and three towering sixes.
Mendis found a steady partner in Farhan Yousaf, and the duo shared a 63-run partnership for the third wicket. Yousaf contributed a brisk 30 off 22 balls, hitting three sixes to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Despite a brief middle-order wobble where Michael Bracewell (14) and Mendis fell in quick succession to the disciplined Muhammad Ismail (2-22), Zalmi maintained a high run rate. Iftikhar Ahmed provided late fireworks, striking a four and a six in a quick-fire 10 off five balls to help push the total toward the 200-run mark.
Peter Siddle was the most effective bowler for the Sultans, finishing with figures of 2-29 from his four overs, while Mohammad Wasim and Mohammad Nawaz claimed a wicket apiece but were expensive, conceding 41 and 38 runs respectively.
Summarised Scores
Peshawar Zalmi: 196/6 in 20 overs
(Kusal Mendis 68, Mohammad Haris 38; Muhammad Ismail 2-22, Peter Siddle 2-29)
Multan Sultans: 172/8 in 20 overs
(Shan Masood 35, Josh Philippe 32; Sufiyan Muqeem 3-30, Nahid Rana 2-24)
Result: Peshawar Zalmi won by 24 runs.
Sufiyan Muqeem (Player of the match)
