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TTS Report :
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.
About the Author
![[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](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20640%20523'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
