KARACHI: Babar Azam’s unbeaten century led Peshawar Zalmi to a resounding 118-run win over Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11th National Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a tough target of 256 runs, the previous edition’s runners-up could muster 137 runs before being bowled out in 18.1 overs.
Middle-order batsman Bevon Jacobs led the charge for the Gladiators with 34 off 27 balls, followed by young opener Shamil Hussain with 21, Dinesh Chandimal, Alsari Joseph with 19 each and skipper Saud Shakeel (12).
Mohammad Basit and Ali Raza combined to take three wickets each off Zalmi’s relentless bowling, followed by Aaron Hardy with two wickets and Subian Muqeem and Michael Bracewell with one each.
Quetta Gladiators skipper South Shakeel’s decision was the first to bat as the leaders piled up 255/3 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a century-plus partnership for the second wicket between Babar and Mendis.
Mohammad Harris’s cameo of 16 helped them take the lead to 30 in 1.3 overs before Alsari Joseph gave the Gladiators a much-needed breakthrough by dismissing the openers on the very next delivery.
Following the setback, the in-form Mendis joined skipper Babar in the middle and the duo dominated to stitch a mammoth 135-run partnership for the second wicket, during which they both registered their third half-centuries of the ongoing PSL 11.
Usman Tariq finally broke the menacing partnership with the first delivery of the 15th over, dismissing Mendis’ 83 off 44 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes.
Babar then shared a 24-run partnership for the third wicket with youngster Farhan Yousaf, who scored 19 off eight balls with 2 fours and a six.
The Zalmi skipper then teamed up with all-rounder Aaron Hardy and ensured a strong finish with the bat for the leaders as the duo put on an unbeaten 66-run partnership.
Babur, who dominated the stands, reached his third PSL century with the final delivery of the innings, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 52 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes.
On the other hand, Hardy scored 26 runs off just 10 balls and hit 3 sixes.
For Gladiators, Abrar Ahmed, Joseph and Usman took one wicket each.