ZW News HD
Related Articles
Peshawar Zalmi players celebrate taking a wicket in their PSL 11 Qualifier match against Islamabad United at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on April 28, 2026. — PSL
By Mahnoor | 29 April 2026
- Babar Azam hits a fantastic century, helping Zalmi score over 220 runs.
- Islamabad United falls apart at 151 while trying to chase a target of 222 runs.
- Hardie takes 3 wickets with a strong bowling performance.
Peshawar Zalmi will play in the Pakistan Super League final after easily beating Islamabad United by 70 runs in Karachi on Tuesday. Babar Azam’s amazing century and strong bowling helped Zalmi, who were the best team in the league, defeat United, who have won the title three times.
The victory sent Babar’s team to the final of the tournament, which includes eight teams. United will play the winner of the game between Multan Sultans and Hyderabad Kingsmen in Lahore on May 1 for a chance to play in the final match. United was chasing a difficult target of 222 runs but only scored 151 before being all out in 18.4 overs.
The 2024 champions started strong, with openers Devon Conway (20) and Sameer Minhas adding 58 runs before Conway was out on the last ball of the fifth over.
Minhas then put on 23 runs with Mohsin Riaz before Aaron Hardie dismissed him in the ninth over. Minhas, the top scorer for United, made a brave 44 off 23 balls, hitting seven fours and a six.
Mohsin was then joined by captain Shadab Khan (six), but they only managed an 18-run partnership as Hardie struck again, getting Shadab out lbw and preventing United from recovering.
In the following over, Mohsin also got out, caught by Sufiyan Muqeem after scoring 25 runs from 20 balls. United’s score became 100/4.
His wicket triggered a collapse in the middle order. United lost four more wickets quickly, in just 23 balls, dropping to 126/8 in 15.1 overs.
Imad Wasim, a seasoned all-rounder, tried to recover the innings with 22 runs off 15 balls, but Mohammad Basit dismissed him in the second-to-last over.
Basit then took Salman Mirza’s wicket in the same over, securing a big win for Peshawar Zalmi.
Hardie led Zalmi’s bowling attack, taking 3 wickets for 24 runs in four overs. Muqeem and Basit took two wickets each, while Bracewell and Shahzad took one each.
Babar won Player of the Match for his amazing century in the important game. United’s captain, Shadab Khan, decided to bat first, but it didn’t work out. Zalmi scored 221/7 in 20 overs, thanks to Babar’s great batting.
Zalmi’s innings started strong, with Babar and Haris scoring 72 runs together until Shadab dismissed Haris in the seventh over. Haris scored 35 runs off 16 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes. Then, Mendis joined Babar, and they kept the momentum going, adding 84 runs for the second wicket.
Ashraf broke the partnership in the 15th over by dismissing Mendis, who scored 41 off 26 balls, including five fours and a six. After that, Zalmi lost two more wickets in the next over, bowled by Shadab, as Bracewell (two) and Samad (zero) were out quickly, making the score 164/4. But Babar stayed strong and scored his fourth PSL century in the 18th over.
Babar Azam was eventually dismissed by Mirza in the second to last over, scoring 103 off 59 balls, with 12 fours and four sixes. Hardie added some quick runs at the end, scoring 20 off 10 balls, before Gleeson tricked him with a slower ball in the final over.
Gleeson took another wicket in the final over, dismissing Yousaf (zero), to help United. Shadab was United’s best bowler, taking three wickets for 42 runs in four overs, followed by Gleeson with two, while Ashraf and Salman took one each.
