Quetta Gladiators kicked off their Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 campaign in style, thrashing Peshawar Zalmi by 80 runs at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Batting first, Quetta posted an impressive total of 216 runs, thanks to strong performances from their top and middle order. Openers Finn Allen and captain Saud Shakeel gave their team a flying start, scoring 67 runs in the powerplay. Allen was especially aggressive, hitting 53 off just 25 balls on his PSL debut. He brought up his fifty by smashing 23 runs in one over off Sufiyan Muqeem before the bowler got his revenge and dismissed him.
Saud Shakeel played a calm and steady innings, scoring 59 runs and adding 63 runs with Hasan Nawaz, who also contributed 41 off 32 deliveries. After both fell in the later overs, Rilee Rossouw and Kusal Mendis provided the perfect finish, putting together an unbeaten 58-run partnership. Mendis remained not out on 35 off 14 balls, while Rossouw chipped in with 21 off 10.
Despite picking up a few wickets, Zalmi's bowlers couldn't control the scoring. Muqeem, Alzarri Joseph, and Ali Raza took a wicket each but were unable to stop the flow of runs.
In reply, Peshawar Zalmi's chase got off to a poor start. Their captain, Babar Azam, was dismissed for a duck in the very first over by Mohammad Amir. Saim Ayub was the only bright spot for Zalmi, scoring a fighting half-centuryhis eighth in PSL history. However, he received little support from the other end.
Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed turned the match in Quetta's favour early, picking up two crucial wickets in the third over. He finished with four wickets, tearing through Zalmi's lower order. Usman Tariq also played a key role, taking two wickets in quick succession.
Zalmi were bowled out for just 136 in 15.1 overs. Apart from Saim, the rest of the batting lineup collapsed under pressure. Kyle Jamieson and Sean Abbott also chipped in, with the latter producing a brilliant run-out to dismiss Alzarri Joseph.
With this commanding win, Quetta Gladiators earned two points and currently sit at the top of the PSL 10 points table.
Fans shocked by Babar's cheap dismissal
Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam had a tough start to the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, getting out for a two-ball duck against Quetta Gladiators on Saturday.
The star batter was dismissed in the first over by Quetta's Mohammad Amir, who bowled a full-length ball outside off stump. Babar went for a cover drive, hoping to clear the infield, but instead hit it straight to Rilee Rossouw at short cover.
The early blow set the tone for Peshawar Zalmi's batting struggle. Quetta Gladiators' bowlers kept the pressure on, not allowing Zalmi's batters to find their rhythm. Peshawar Zalmi were bowled out on 136, falling short by a massive 80 runs.
Hundreds of fans present at the stadium, who had given a thunderous welcome to Babar as he entered the ground to bat, suddenly went in a hush at the former national team skipper's dismissal for a duck.
"Most of us had come here to watch Babar Azam, but he has disappointed us again with his cheap dismissal," said Dr Zaid Iqbal who had come to the Pindi Stadium with four of his friends for this PSL X game.
Zaid's sentiments were echoed by college student Ghazala Roohi who said both Babar and Saim Ayub were the main attraction for the fans in the match. "Although Saim, coming back from his injury, showed us glimpses of his brilliance with a fine half century, we were annoyed to see Babar falling for a duck here. I don't know when his peak form will return," said a dejected looking Ghazala.
Meanwhile, Peshawar Zalmi find themselves at the bottom after their opening match.
Munro surpasses Rossouw's PSL record
Colin Munro achieved a major milestone on Friday during the opening match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10, surpassing Rilee Rossouw to set a new record.
With this innings of 59, Munro overtook Rossouw's record of 12 half-centuries to become the foreign player with the most 50-plus scores in PSL history.
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