KARACHI: 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi turned the record books on Sunday thanks to captain Babar Azam’s unbeaten century against Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11th 29th match.
Batting first, the visitors amassed 255/3 in their 20 overs against the Gladiators, aided by a formidable second-wicket partnership between centurion Babar Azam and the in-form Gusal Mendis.
Zalmi’s 255/3 is now the highest PSL total at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, beating the previous best of 246/3.
Also, it was 246/3 against Kings that was Zalmi’s highest score.
Meanwhile, Zalmi’s 255/3 marquee is the third-highest score ever recorded in the league, behind Multan Sultans’ 262/3, while 2019 champions Quetta Gladiators’ 263/3 against Islamabad United in the previous edition stayed at the summit.
Highest tally in PSL history
- Quetta Gladiators – 263/3 vs Islamabad United in 2025
- Multan Sultans – 262/3 vs Quetta Gladiators in 2023
- Peshawar Zalmi – 255/3 vs Quetta Gladiators in 2026
- Quetta Gladiators – 253/8 vs Multan Sultans in 2023
- Islamabad United – 251/5 vs Karachi Kings in 2025
Their skipper Babbar led the way for the 2017 champions with an unbeaten century off just 52 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes.
Babar’s 52-ball century helped him equal the record for most PSL centuries, alongside Kamran Akmal, Riley Rossouw and Usman Khan, his fastest century in the marquee league.
The star batsman shared a 135-run partnership for the second wicket with Mendis, which helped him equal Virat Kohli’s record for the highest century in T20Is.
Top 100 Partnerships in T20 Cricket
- 47 – Virat Kohli (India)
- 47 – Babar Assam (Pakistan)
- 46 – Chris Gayle (West Indies)
- 45 – David Warner (Australia)
- 40 – Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Meanwhile, Babbar’s quick century against the Gladiators helped close the gap with West Indies batsman Chris Gayle on the list of most T20 centuries.
Gayle has topped the elusive list with 22 centuries, while Babur is now on 12.