A Dramatic Finish by Peshawar Zalmi Earns Them Third Straight Triumph

Muhammad Waqas 

Peshawar Zalmi: 201/5 (20) | Babar 111*(63), Saim 38(21) | Shadab 2/28, Agha 1/25 

Islamabad United: 193/9 (20) | Azam 75(30), Munro 71(53) | Yaqoob 5/27, Saim 1/24

Babar Azam’s dazzling hundred and Arif Yaqoob’s remarkable five-wicket haul triggered a dramatic turn of events, seizing Peshawar Zalmi third consecutive win in Pakistan Super League 9.

Chasing 202, Islamabad United faced early challenges by losing Jordan Cox in the fifth over and Shadab Khan in 7^th over at the score of just 50. Agha Salman was dismissed after scoring 14 runs. However, requiring 128 runs off 60 balls, Islamabad made a spectacular comeback, thanks to Colin Munro and Azam Khan. Azam’s explosive 75 off merely 30 deliveries and Munro’s composed 71 drove United into a dominant position.

Yet, just when victory seemed within grasp of Islamabad, the tide turned dramatically in Peshawar Zalmi’s favor. Azam Khan lost his wicket to Naveen ul haq on the last ball of the 18th over. With 21 required off 2 overs, Arif Yaqoob conceded just 2 runs along with dismissing four batters, becoming the only bowler in Pakistan Super League history to take four wickets in an over. Despite Naseem Shah’s six in the last over, Islamabad fell 8 runs short of victory.

Arif Yaqoob finished with figures 5/27 (4), while Saim, Wood, Naveen and Irshad took one wicket each.

Earlier, Babar Azam and Saim Ayub provided Peshawar Zalmi a solid 73-run stand before Saim was removed by Agha Salman after scoring 38 off 21. However, Peshawar Zalmi witnessed a collapse as Mohammad Haris and Haseebullah Khan were sent back by Shadab Khan in the following over. Paul Walter’s runout and Rovman powell’s wicket pushed Zalmi on the backfoot, struggling at 124/5.

Babar rescued Zalmi with an unbeaten century 

However, skipper Babar Azam led from the front and intensified the onslaught, hitting four boundaries and six to Hunain Shah, ably supported by Asif Ali. Peshawar Zalmi finished the innings at 201/5 with Babar Azam scoring an unbeaten 111 runs off 63 deliveries.

For Islamabad, Shadab Khan was the standout bowler for his 2/28(4), supported by Naseem Shah 1/32 and Agha Salman 1/25.

Turning Point:

With Islamabad needing 21 runs off 12 balls, Arif Yaqoob’s over changed the course of the game. His dismissal of four Islamabad batters secured an unexpected triumph for Peshawar Zalmi.