Peshawar Zalmi’s bowlers put on a clinical performance, as they restricted Lahore Qalandars to a modest 129 in 19.3 overs in their HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 encounter at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
After being put in to bat, Lahore Qalandars’ top order once again faltered, collapsing under the pressure of disciplined, tight bowling from the Peshawar Zalmi attack. Alzarri Joseph and Luke Wood led the charge with relentless accuracy, sharing five wickets between them and never allowing Lahore to find any rhythm.
Fakhar Zaman fell early as he was bowled by Joseph for 10 off 8 balls. The decision to promote lower-order batter Asif Ali backfired, as he was trapped leg-before by Luke Wood for just 5. Abdullah Shafique followed soon after, falling for a four-ball duck, caught off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph further denting Lahore’s shaky start.
Daryl Mitchell (2) and Sam Billings (9) followed soon after, leaving Lahore reeling at 33 for 5.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi tried to counter-attack with a quick 16 off 10 balls, including two sixes, before being caught behind off Hussain Talat. The only meaningful resistance came from Sikandar Raza, who played a gritty knock of 52 from 37 deliveries, striking five boundaries and three sixes to lift his side past the 100-run mark.
Raza found brief support from Rishad Hossain (13) and Haris Rauf (10), but regular wickets at the other end meant the innings never gained momentum. Lahore eventually folded for 128 in 19.3 overs.
Joseph led the charge with his pace and bounce, dismantling the top order and ending with exceptional figures of 3 for 16 in four overs, while Wood chipped in with 2 for 25.
Lahore Qalandars are currently ranked third on the points table, having won one match and lost two out of three. Meanwhile, Peshawar Zalmi sit at fourth, having won only one match out of four played so far.
Peshawar Zalmi: Saim Ayub, *abar Azam (Captain), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hussain Talat, Mitchell Owen, Abdul Samad, Alzarri Joseph, Luke Wood, Arif Yaqoob, Ali Raza.
Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Captain), Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Asif Ali, Sikandar Raza, Rishad Hossain, Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi, Mohammad Azab.
