Summary Peshawar Zalmi defeated Karachi Kings by seven wickets in PSL 11 as Kusal Mendis and Farhan Yousaf powered a comfortable chase of 183 in Lahore.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Peshawar Zalmi continued their commanding run in the Pakistan Super League (PSL 11), securing a convincing seven-wicket victory over Karachi Kings in the 32nd match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing a competitive target of 183, Zalmi completed the pursuit in 18.5 overs with just three wickets down. The victory was anchored by outstanding unbeaten knocks from Kusal Mendis and Farhan Yousaf, who guided the side home with authority.
The innings began with confidence as James Vince and captain Babar Azam provided a fluent start, putting together 37 runs for the opening wicket. Vince struck 16 off 10 deliveries, including two boundaries and a six, before Hasan Ali struck to break the stand.
Babar Azam followed soon after, dismissed for 25 off 19 balls by Abbas Afridi, leaving Zalmi at 45-2 inside the powerplay. Despite the early breakthroughs, the chase remained firmly under control as Mendis took charge of the innings.
Kusal Mendis delivered a composed yet aggressive innings, maintaining momentum while ensuring stability through the middle overs. He brought up his fourth half-century of PSL 11, showcasing a blend of timing and power against Karachi’s bowling attack.
Zalmi briefly stumbled at 95-3 when Aaron Hardie fell for five, dismissed by Khushdil Shah. However, that proved to be the final breakthrough for Karachi Kings as Mendis found an able partner in Farhan Yousaf.
The pair stitched together a decisive partnership, steadily rebuilding before accelerating at the right moment. Farhan shifted gears impressively, striking boundaries with ease as the required rate dropped rapidly.
Farhan Yousaf reached his maiden PSL half-century in style, finishing unbeaten on 58 off 35 deliveries, including four fours and three sixes. Mendis remained not out on a match-winning 80 off 43 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes.
Mendis was named Player of the Match for his decisive contribution in the successful chase.
Earlier, Karachi Kings posted 182-9 after opting to bat first, with Jason Roy leading the charge through a brilliant 85 off 51 balls. His innings, featuring 11 fours and two sixes, laid the foundation for a strong total.
David Warner scored 11 before falling to Ali Raza, while Salman Ali Agha added 12 and Reeza Hendricks contributed 13. Azam Khan provided late acceleration with a quickfire 35 off 19 balls, pushing Karachi past the 150 mark.
However, the innings lost momentum towards the end due to a remarkable bowling display from Ali Raza. The Zalmi pacer claimed four wickets, including a dramatic hat-trick in the final over.
He removed Shahid Aziz with a pinpoint yorker before dismissing Hasan Ali on the final ball to complete the hat-trick, capping off a memorable spell that restricted Karachi below the 190-mark.
Sufiyan Muqeem, Iftikhar Ahmed and Aaron Hardie chipped in with one wicket each, ensuring Karachi’s batting line-up could not fully capitalise on Roy’s dominance.
The result further strengthens Peshawar Zalmi’s position at the top of the PSL 11 standings, as they extend their unbeaten run and maintain strong momentum heading into the playoffs.
Karachi Kings, meanwhile, remain under pressure in the lower half of the table, with this defeat complicating their chances of progressing further in the tournament.
