LAHORE: Youngster Saim Ayub and skipper Babar Azam scored brilliant fifties before bowlers wreaked havoc on the top order of Lahore Qalandars to help Peshawar Zalmi seal a commanding 35-run victory in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League season 8 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Saim punched Lahore Qalandars’ bowlers with eight scintillating fours and three maximums during his impressive 36-ball 68.
On the other hand, Babar Azam played a cautious knock of 50 runs from 40 balls before walking back to the pavilion in the 16th over off Haris Rauf’s bowling.
Deciding to bat first, Peshawar Zalmi went off with a superb 107-run opening partnership between the two before Rashid Khan gave Lahore Qalandar their first breakthrough in the 11th over. He dismissed the dangerman Saim.
Afghanistan spinner then handed the second blow to Peshawar Zalmi in his next over when he sent back no.3 Mohammad Haris on a paltry 9.
Peshawar Zalmi bowlers destroy Qalandars batting line up
Incoming batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore refused to take his foot off the pedal and carried an onslaught in the middle overs.
Kohler-Cadmore smashed three sixes and two fours while blistering 36 in just 16 balls. His inning was cut short by fast bowler Haris Rauf (2-35) in the 18th over.
From 183/4 to 207 runs all out, Shaheen Shah Afridi-inspired Lahore Qalandars put up a solid bowling effort in the last three overs of the innings to control the damage.
Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi remained impressive with the ball as he bagged four quick wickets, three of them coming in the penultimate over. Meanwhile, Zaman Khan ran through the tailenders in the last over to end up with 2 for 30 in 2.3 overs for Peshawar Zalmi.
