Babar Azam’s 57-ball hundred sends Zalmi into PSL final
Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam plays a shot during his 103-run knock against Islamabad United in the PSL 10 qualifier on Tuesday. Photo: PSL/ X
Captain Babar Azam struck a fluent 57-ball hundred as Peshawar Zalmi outclassed Islamabad United by 70 runs in the first qualifier of the 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League at the National Stadium, Karachi, sealing a place in the final for a record fifth time.
Put into bat after Islamabad United won the toss and opted to field, Zalmi made a strong start as Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris laid a solid foundation, taking the score to 68 inside the powerplay.
United struck their first breakthrough in the seventh over when Haris, who made 35 off 16 balls, failed to find the gap and was caught at long-off by Mark Chapman.
Peshawar Zalmi cruising to cover 200+👀#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/YsJE6r3jiM
Babar then anchored the innings alongside Kusal Mendis, with whom he has formed several productive partnerships this season. The pair added 84 runs for the second wicket, blending control with acceleration to keep Zalmi on course for a big total.
Mendis tonks two fours down the ground to bring up 150 for Peshawar Zalmi#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/9NudO8O3xu
Mendis contributed a brisk 41 off 26 balls, hitting five fours and a six, before falling as Babar continued to dominate.
𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 ⚔️
Babar hits Shadab Khan for two sixes in 14th over 💥#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/7m7CZxrIu8The right-hander reached his half-century off 38 balls before shifting gears, bringing up his next fifty in just 19 deliveries to complete his second century of the season.
بابر اعظم مینه والو ته ډیر ډیړ مبارک شي او دا نیشنل سټیډیم رونقونه هم ټولو ته مبارک شي💛#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/BvMzLOILan
Babar made 103 off 59 balls, striking 12 fours and four sixes, and also moved to the top of the tournament’s run-scoring charts, overtaking Mendis.
With one game to go for him in HBL PSL 11, Babar Azam has already matched Fakhar Zaman's tally of most runs in a single HBL PSL season.#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/r6J1ekNaus
Although Zalmi lost a cluster of wickets in the final overs, the foundation had already been laid for a commanding finish as they posted 221 for 7 in their 20 overs.
For Islamabad United, captain Shadab Khan was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 42 runs, while Richard Gleeson chipped in with two wickets.
Chasing 222, Islamabad United openers Devon Conway and Sameer Minhas provided a positive start, putting on 58 runs in the first five overs. Conway, who made 20 off 14 balls, was dismissed by Michael Bracewell.
📸from #PZvIU second innings✨#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra pic.twitter.com/7chfWgwLHC
Minhas continued to look promising, scoring 44 off 23 balls, but was sent back when Aaron Hardie induced a straightforward catch to Babar Azam.
From that point onwards, Islamabad’s innings unravelled under sustained pressure. Wickets fell at regular intervals as they lost any semblance of momentum, eventually being bowled out for 151.
Basit takes the final wicket, and with that, Peshawar Zalmi hand Islamabad United a 70-run thumping.#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/nGEfplfJIX
The chase never recovered after the top-order dismissals, with seven batters failing to reach double figures in a stark reflection of their collapse.
Clinical all-round display from Peshawar Zalmi led from the front by skipper Babar Azam's century sees them storm into the HBL PSL 11 final 🥳#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/Tlw02iyDSm
With the win, Zalmi closed out a comprehensive win to book their place in the final for a record fifth time in PSL history.
Zalmay of the night!💫#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/mFgBO7lEc4
Babar Azam was named Player of the Match for his outstanding century