In the most exciting Pakistan Super League (PSL) encounter so far, Lahore Qalandars crushed Peshawar Zalmi by 240 runs. Then, they stunned the field with their incredible bowling and fielding displays. The T20 match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore brought the crowd to its feet. Both sides battled tooth and nail for domination.
Peshawar Zalmi’s Mohammad Naeem and Abdullah Shafique did get off to shaky starts. Naeem departed without scoring, to be caught by Samad and bowled by Sams. ICC/Twitter Shafique made a classy 68 in the middle order, scoring runs at a brisk run rate. An attacking Mishra was soon out for a duck, caught by Samad off the bowling of Ali Raza. The Zalmi struggled to build a solid foundation as these early wickets created a ripple effect across their batting lineup.
To make matters worse, Asif Ali and Shakib both succumbed to Ahmed Daniyal without scoring a run. Ali was bowled by Samad, but stuck in the crease, while Shakib just got bowled – clean bowled. It was clear that the Qalandars’ bowlers were in top form, effectively dismantling the Zalmi’s batting order.
Perhaps most significantly, it was Raza’s dismissal which saw him make 33 runs only to be caught by Haris Rauf and bowled by Ali Raza. His departure would be the final nail in the coffin of a match where momentum had swayed sharply in the Lahore Qalandars’ favor.
From the start of the match, the Qalandars’ disciplined bowling attack kept their opponents under immense pressure. Peshawar Zalmi scored a total of 13 extras in the match. This comprised of 0 no balls, 5 wides, 4 byes and 4 leg byes. These other runs were hardly reflective of the calamity that was the Zalmi’s innings.
The Lahore Qalandars made use of the opportunities that came their way. Their remarkable fielding helped to secure a comprehensive win against Peshawar Zalmi. Beyond individual accolades, their performance served as an example of high-functioning team collaboration that’s important to making magic happen in moments where it counts most.
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