PSL 2024 (Game 12) – Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalanders
Peshawar Zalmi triumphed over defending champions Lahore Qalandars, marking their second victory in four games and propelling them to fourth place on the table. Despite an exceptional unbeaten century from Rassie van der Dussen, Lahore Qalandars slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat in the tournament.
Peshawar Zalmi got off to a dream start after being put into bat, with Saim Ayub and Babar Azam setting the stage on fire during the powerplay. Ayub’s aggressive strokeplay propelled Zalmi forward, while Azam provided a solid knock of 48 at the other end. Although Ayub fell short of a century, his blistering 88 laid a strong foundation for Zalmi’s imposing total. Rovman Powell’s explosive cameo of 46 runs further bolstered Zalmi’s innings, taking them to a staggering 211 for just 4 wickets.
In pursuit, Lahore Qalandars faced early setbacks with the dismissals of Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman. However, Rassie van der Dussen emerged as the beacon of hope for the Qalandars, unleashing a remarkable unbeaten 104 off just 52 balls. Van der Dussen’s onslaught, comprising six sixes and seven fours, kept Lahore in contention. Despite valiant efforts from Rassie, Shai Hope and Ahsan Bhatti, the Qalandars fell short, finishing at 203 for 6 in their 20 overs.
Peshawar Zalmi’s bowlers, led by Naveen-ul-Haq and Luke Wood, maintained their composure in the face of van der Dussen’s onslaught. With the game hanging in the balance, Salman Irshad’s crucial breakthrough and disciplined bowling from Paul Walter and Luke Wood in the final overs ensured Zalmi’s victory by a narrow margin of eight runs.
Chief Scores:
Peshawar Zalmi – 211 for 4 in 20 overs (Saim Ayub 88, Babar Azam 48, Rovman Powell 46, Shaheen Afridi 3 for 33, Jahandad Khan 1 for 22, Ahsan Bhatti 0 for 11)
Lahore Qalandars – 203 for 6 in 20 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 104*, Shai Hope 29, Ahsan Bhatti 20, Naveen Ul Haq 2 for 50, Salman Irshad 1 for 39, Paul Walter 1 for 41)
