Lahore Qalandars kept their playoff hopes alive with a composed four-wicket victory over Peshawar Zalmi in a high-scoring Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 encounter at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Saturday, successfully chasing down a 200-run target.
Set a daunting 200 for victory, Lahore reached the target for the loss of four wickets, anchored by a fluent 58 from Fakhar Zaman.
Key contributions also came from Charith Asalanka (33), Sikandar Raza (29), Sam Billings (35), and Abdullah Shafique (25), as Lahore produced a well-paced chase under pressure.
Peshawar’s bowling effort saw Sufiyan Muqeem, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ali Raza, and Khurram Shahzad pick up one wicket each, but they were unable to contain Lahore’s deep batting lineup.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars had opted to field first after winning the toss, but Zalmi’s batting unit responded with a strong display led by captain Babar Azam, who scored 59, and Michael Bracewell, who anchored the innings with a fluent 83.
The pair provided stability and momentum through the middle overs, helping Zalmi reach a challenging total despite disciplined bowling from the opposition.
For Lahore, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf claimed two wickets each, keeping the scoring in check at key stages of the innings.
Chasing a place in the playoff race, Lahore Qalandars now face a must-win situation, with the 200-run target placing added pressure on their batting lineup in a crucial phase of the tournament.
This is the second meeting between these two teams this season.
Zalmi annihilated Qalandars in Karachi as they bundled them out for 97 after posting 173 for seven to record a 76-run victory.
After winning the toss, Shaheen says the message to his team is to fight till the last ball. He says Mohammad Naeem and Ryan Burl are playing today.
Playing XIs
Lahore Qalandars: Mohammad Naeem, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Charith Asalanka, Haseebullah (wk), Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Daniel Sams, Shaheen Afridi, Ubaid Shah, Haris Rauf
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, James Vince, Kusal Mendis, Farhan Yousuf, Michael Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Khurram Shahzad, Sufyan Muqeem, Basit Ali, Ali Raza.