Four representatives from Bangladesh featured in this Pakistan Super League encounter, with Mustafizur Rahman facing compatriots Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana on the field, while Athar Ali Khan was on commentary duty. Ultimately, it was Shoriful and Nahid who emerged on the winning side, as Peshawar Zalmi secured a commanding 76-run victory over Lahore Qalandars.
The 19th match of the Pakistan Super League, held at the National Stadium Karachi on Saturday, saw Peshawar post a competitive total of 173 for 7. In reply, Lahore were dismissed for just 97, failing to mount any meaningful resistance during the chase.
Despite ending up on the losing side, Mustafizur once again demonstrated his quality with the ball. The left-arm seamer returned figures of 2 for 30 from his four overs, maintaining an economy rate below eight runs per over. With the bat, he contributed an unbeaten four off three deliveries, including a boundary—his side’s 422nd four of the tournament. His brief partnership of 22 runs from 19 balls with Dunith Wellalage, however, was insufficient to carry Lahore to even the 100-run mark.
Earlier, Peshawar’s innings was anchored by a crucial partnership between captain Babar Azam and Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis. The pair added another century stand, with Mendis scoring 74 off 48 balls and Babar contributing 43 from 40 deliveries. Mendis’s innings earned him the Player of the Match award.
Lahore’s most successful bowler was their captain Shaheen Afridi, who claimed three wickets for 22 runs. However, the decision to field first after winning the toss did not yield the desired outcome, as their batting unit collapsed under pressure.
Only Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique managed to score 21 runs each, while Wellalage added 20. The rest of the batting line-up failed to reach double figures. Peshawar’s bowling attack was led by New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell (3 for 18) and Sufiyan Muqeem (3 for 21), who shared six wickets between them to dismantle Lahore’s innings.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Key Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Peshawar Zalmi | 173/7 | Kusal Mendis 74 (48), Babar Azam 43 (40) |
| Lahore Qalandars | 97 all out | Fakhar Zaman 21, Abdullah Shafique 21 |
| Bowling (Peshawar) | — | Bracewell 3/18, Muqeem 3/21 |
| Bowling (Lahore) | — | Shaheen Afridi 3/22, Mustafizur 2/30 |
With this result, Peshawar move to the top of the eight-team standings with four wins from five matches, collecting nine points. Lahore, meanwhile, remain in sixth place with just four points. The top four teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the play-offs.