KARACHI: 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi beat Multan Sultans by 24 runs in the 22nd match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium.
Batting first, the leaders amassed a mammoth total of 196/6 in the group, buoyed by Gusal Mendis’s magnificent half-century and Mohammed Harris’ quick fire.
Mendis scored 68 off 40 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes while Haris scored 38 off 17 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes.
Apart from them, youngster Farhan Yousaf helped Zalmi’s total with a 22-ball 30 with 3 fours.
For Sultans, Muhammad Ismail and Peter Siddle took 2 wickets each, while Muhammad Nawaz and Muhammad Wasim Jr. took one wicket each.
Chasing a tough target of 197 runs, Sultans could only manage 172/8 in their 20 overs, suffering their second defeat in the ongoing PSL 11.
Vice-captain Shaun Masood top-scored for Sultans with 35 off 19 balls, while Josh Phillippe and Steve Smith scored 32 and 31 respectively.
Sufyan Mukeem sparked Zalmi’s bowling with 3 for 30 from his four overs, while Iftikhar Ahmed and Nahid Rana claimed two wickets each, while Amy Jamal chipped in with a scalp.
The 24-run victory meant that Peshawar Zalmi remained the only unbeaten team in the eight-team tournament and secured the top spot with 11 points after six games, while Multan Sultans retained the second spot with eight points after as many games.
| Teams | Competitions | succeeds | Losses | No results | points | Net flow rate |
| Peshawar Salmi | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2.722 |
| Sultans of Multan | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0.527 |
| Islamabad United | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1.363 |
| Kings of Karachi | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -1.395 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0.456 |
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | -0.808 |
| Lahore Colleagues | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -0.863 |
| Rawalpindi’s | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -1.864 |
Three-time champions Islamabad United are third on the points table with seven points from six games, while Karachi Kings have six points from a game less.
Quetta Gladiators, Hyderabad Kingsmen and defending champions Lahore Qalandars occupy the next three spots respectively, with all three teams having four points each.
However, the Kingsmen have played six matches, one more than the previous edition’s finalists.
On the other hand, Rawalpindis, who are yet to register a win in PSL 11, are lingering at the bottom spot after five straight defeats.