![[12:46 am, 29/03/2026] Azhar bhai the Nation: Samad, Bracewell heroics steer Peshawar Zalmi to record win over RawalPindiz LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi kick-started their PSL 11 campaign with a clinical five-wicket victory over newcomers RawalPindiz. Chasing a daunting target of 215 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, Zalmi’s middle-order depth proved the difference in a contest where momentum swung like a pendulum. Peshawar’s pursuit began with intent. Skipper Babar Azam and the explosive Mohammad Haris ignited the engine early, stitching together a 50-run opening stand in under five overs. Babar provided the elegance with a 28-ball 39, while Haris played the role of the aggressor, falling just short of a half-century with a fiery 47 off 28 deliveries. The chase hit a slight turbulence in the middle overs. When Kusal Mendis (31 off 17) and Aaron Hardie departed in quick succession, the required run rate began to creep toward the uncomfortable. However, the game turned on its head during a blistering partnership between Michael Bracewell and Abdul Samad. Samad turned spectator into fielder with a breathtaking 33 off just 11 balls—a cameo decorated with four towering sixes that shifted the pressure back onto the Pindiz bowlers. Following Samad’s exit, Aamir Jamal walked in and immediately cleared the ropes off Naseem Shah to signal Zalmi’s refusal to blink. Bracewell remained the steady hand at the finish, remaining unbeaten on 35 (17 balls) as Zalmi crossed the finish line with five balls to spare. Earlier, RawalPindiz looked set for a dream debut after being put in to bat. Captain Mohammad Rizwan and Yasir Khan dismantled the Zalmi attack with a masterclass in opening stands. The pair put on 125 runs, with Yasir Khan the standout performer, smashing a brilliant 83 off 46 balls, including six maximums. Rizwan’s steady 41 provided the platform for a late-innings surge. Despite a flurry of wickets in the death overs—led by Ali Raza’s two-wicket burst—cameos from Kamran Ghulam (37) and Sam Billings (18*) propelled the debutants to a massive 214-4. While RawalPindiz posted a total that would usually be match-winning, their bowling unit struggled to contain Zalmi’s depth. Amad Butt managed two wickets but proved expensive, conceding 45 runs in his spell. Ultimately, Zalmi’s ability to find boundaries during the "squeeze" overs (11–15) allowed them to stay ahead of the curve. Match Summary RawalPindiz: 214/4 in 20 overs (Yasir Khan 83, Mohammad Rizwan 41; Ali Raza 2/42) Peshawar Zalmi: 215/5 in 19.1 overs (Mohammad Haris 47, Babar Azam 39, Michael Bracewell 35*; Amad Butt 2/45) Result: Peshawar Zalmi won by 5 wickets. [12:55 am, 29/03/2026] Azhar bhai the Nation: Qamar, Philippe guide Sultans to triumph over United](https://tothesports.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/image-30.png)
Multan Sultans officiallyy signaled their intent for the PSL 11 title with a clinical five-wicket dismantling of three-time champions Islamabad United in a clash of titans at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Led by a tactical masterclass from new skipper Ashton Turner and a breakout performance by young Momin Qamar, the Sultans chased down a tricky 172-run target with eight balls to spare.
The narrative of the match was scripted early by the emerging Momin Qamar. After Islamabad United’s openers, Devon Conway (26) and Sameer Minhas (28), threatened to take the game away with a brisk 48-run start, Turner turned to his youth prospects.
Qamar responded with a spell of breathtaking precision, finishing with 3/24. He sliced through United’s middle order, accounting for the dangerous Mark Chapman—who had hammered a rapid 40 off 23—and Haider Ali in a double-wicket 15th over that broke the back of the United innings. Despite a late 26-run flourish from Faheem Ashraf, United were restricted to 171/8, a total that felt 15 runs short on a true Lahore surface.
The Sultans’ pursuit began with the early loss of Sahibzada Farhan, but the mood quickly shifted as Josh Philippe and Steve Smith joined forces. Smith, making his much-anticipated PSL debut, looked every bit the master craftsman, scoring a fluent 31.
However, it was Philippe who stole the spotlight. The Australian wicketkeeper-batter anchored the chase with a blistering 55 off 35 balls, dismantling the United spin attack with five boundaries and two towering sixes. His 61-run partnership with Ashton Turner ensured the Sultans never lost sight of the required rate.
When United captain Shadab Khan (2/36) briefly threatened a comeback by removing Philippe, the Sultans’ depth came to the fore. Arafat Minhas played the cameo of the night, a “swashbuckling” 25 off just 11 deliveries that effectively ended the contest. Skipper Turner then applied the finishing touches, remaining unbeaten on 43* to guide his side home in the penultimate over.
While Islamabad United showed flashes of brilliance through Chapman and Salman Irshad (2/28), they lacked the clinical edge required to defend 171 against a revamped Multan lineup. For the Sultans, this victory wasn’t just about the points; it was a demonstration of a balanced roster where experience meets explosive young talent.
