PSL 10: Peshawar Zalmi defeat Multan Sultans by 7 wickets 

Multan (Web Desk): Peshawar Zalmi defeated Multan Sultans by seven wickets in the 25th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 at Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Chasing a paltry 109, Zalmi crossed the finish line with ease, sealing the deal with 42 balls in hand and securing their fourth win of the season — a result that puts pressure on Lahore Qalandars in the race for the final playoff spot.

The chase, although straightforward in the end, had a jittery start. Mitchell Owen departed early, falling for just one in the opening over to a sharp delivery from David Willey.

But any hope of a Sultans comeback was quickly dashed by a dominant 49-run stand between Saim Ayub and skipper Babar Azam. Ayub was the aggressor, carving out a dynamic 49 from 33 balls, peppered with four boundaries and three towering sixes. Babar, however, looked far from his fluent best, scratching his way to eight off 13 before being undone by young pacer Shahid Aziz.

Aziz was the lone bright spark for Multan, snaring both Babar and the well-set Ayub to briefly give his side a sliver of hope.

But Paul Walter Bryant made sure it was short-lived. The powerful left-hander took charge in the latter half of the innings, smashing an unbeaten 38 from just 20 balls, which included five fours and a maximum. Partnering with Mohammad Haris, who added a steady seven not out, Bryant anchored the chase and guided Zalmi home without further hiccups.

Earlier, Multan's decision to bat first after winning the toss misfired badly. Their innings never quite took off as Zalmi’s bowling unit maintained relentless pressure throughout.

The openers Yasir Khan and Mohammad Rizwan couldn’t make much of an impact, falling within the powerplay with the scoreboard reading 34 for 2. Tayyab Tahir attempted to shift gears with a quick 22 off 18 balls, but his dismissal in the ninth over sparked a dramatic collapse. From 66 for 3, the Sultans slid to 66 for 6 in a matter of deliveries, undone by a flurry of soft dismissals and sharp bowling.

Shai Hope tried to stem the rot with a composed 23 from 21, offering brief resistance alongside Willey, but neither could engineer a revival. Hope’s departure, caught and bowled by Alzarri Joseph, essentially ended any hopes of a recovery. Willey’s labored 8 off 16 and Mohammad Hasnain’s late 11-run cameo merely delayed the inevitable, as the Sultans were bundled out for 108 in the penultimate over.

Ahmed Daniyal led the charge for Zalmi with an excellent spell of 3 for 17. Maaz Sadaqat and Luke Wood chipped in with two wickets apiece, while Joseph, Saim Ayub, and Ali Raza each added one to their tally in a thoroughly disciplined team effort.

In a match they simply had to win, Peshawar not only delivered — they made a statement. With momentum on their side, the road to the playoffs is suddenly wide open.

Teams

Peshawar Zalmi: Mitch Owen, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (cap), Mohammad Haris (wk), Hussain Talat, Max Bryant, Maaz Sadaqat, Luke Wood, Alzari Joseph, Ahmed Daniyal, Ali Raza

Multan Sultans: Yasir Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (cap & wk), Shai Hope, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Amir Barki, Ashton Turner, Shahid Aziz, David Willey, Faisal Akram, Mohammad Hasnain, Ubaid Shah.