PES VS LAH MATCH 12

Right then, that's all from this game, where Peshawar Zalmi held their nerves to get over the line. With this win, Babar Azam's Zalmi have climbed to the fourth spot in the standings. As for the Lahore Qalandars, the wait continues for their first win of the season. The action continues in the 2024 Pakistan Super League on Monday, 26th of February, where Islamabad United will face off against Peshawar Zalmi. It will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). As always, you can join us in advance for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

The winning skipper of Peshawar Zalmi, Babar Azam says that he is feeling good after the victory. He continues that at toss, he thought 180-190 would be a good score to put up but the way they started, he felt they were 10-15 runs short. He also states that the bowlers were told to trust their instincts and believe in themselves to bowl their best ball using the size of the boundaries. He ends up saying that, despite being the captain he always takes the input of West Indies skipper Rovman Powell and the communication is good between the senior players.

Saim Ayub is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his stellar knock of 88 runs from 55 balls. He says that he did not try to do anything special. States that he always tries to be aggressive in approach and bat with a positive mindset. Adds that it sometimes comes off while sometimes it does not but he stays positive. States that on such tracks, even 200-plus is tough to defend. Shares that they as batters, try to assess the conditions and once set, they go big. Reckons that fielding is always in your hands and he tries to bring in positive energy.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

The skipper of Lahore Qalandars, Shaheen Afridi says that Rassie van der Dussen played exceptional cricket in this match. He continues that their luck wasn't on their side and they are losing close games throughout the campaign. He also stated to continue the left-hand right-hand combination as one side of the boundary is short and the other one is big. He also states that they missed the experience of Haris Rauf. Ends up by saying that they hope to come back stronger in the next games.

Paul Walter is up for a quick chat. He says that he was lucky enough to have a good amount of runs in hand to defend in the last over. He continues that he was fortunate as the first ball didn't go for a maximum. He also states that the conditions were tough to bowl. He also praises the way Saim Ayub from his team and Rassie van der Dussen from the opposition batted. He reckons that it was an important match to win. Ends up saying that their coach Darren Sammy was extremely supportive and had confidence in this team.

Earlier in the game, after being put into bat, it was a dream start for the Peshawar Zalmi. Saim Ayub and Babar Azam matched each other shot for shot during the Powerplay to get Zalmi off to a flier. After the field restrictions were lifted, Babar took the back seat in the partnership and watched Ayub unleash an onslaught at the other end. Despite the departure of Babar, Ayub carried on his merry way and found boundaries with regularity. However, he failed to reach the three-figure score and got out on 88. Rovman Powell capitalised on the launch pad and made it count through his cameo of 46 runs from 20 balls. Mohammad Haris chipped in as well towards the end to allow Zalmi to get to 211. For Lahore Qalandars, skipper, Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 33 from his four overs.

As for the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, they have suffered their fifth defeat on the trot. They made a good fist of it while chasing a huge total but fell short despite Rassie van der Dussen's best efforts. Their woes with the ball continued in this game and were right up against it at the halfway mark. With 212 runs to get, they needed a good start from their openers. It did not go according to their plan as Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman were dismissed cheaply. Rassie made his intentions clear straight away and did not let the pressure get the better of him. He found an able alley in Shai Hope and the duo kept the Qalandars in hunt. After Hope fell, Rassie kept his composure and continued to find the boundaries when needed. He soon brought up his first-ever PSL hundred but in the end, it proved to be a bridge too far. In hindsight, the Qalandars would feel that things would have been different had Sikandar Raza been sent ahead of Ahsan Hafeez and Jahandad Khan.

The Gadaffi Stadium is turning out to be a gift that keeps on giving close games one after the other! We witnessed an absolute run-fest this evening where Peshawar Zalmi held their nerves to emerge victorious. Despite having a big total on the board, Zalmi needed to start well with the ball. Naveen-ul-Haq gave them an early inroad before Luke Wood backed it up from the other end. The middle phase was dominated by Rassie van der Dussen but Zalmi did well to slip in quiet overs to mount the pressure on the opposition. Brought back into the attack, Salman Irshad helped Zalmi get rid of Hope just when they needed a breakthrough the most. They continued to leak boundaries and it got too close for comfort for them at the end. However, the English duo of Paul Walter and Luke Wood nailed their lines and lengths at the death to close out the game for Peshawar Zalmi.

SIX! Launched down the ground but it is not enough! Attacks the stumps, on a length, on off, Carlos Brathwaite clears his front leg and launches it back over the bowler's head for a maximum. Peshawar Zalmi win by 8 runs!

Slower and on a back of a length, around off, Carlos Brathwaite hangs back to swing across the line but misses.

Carlos Brathwaite is the new man in.

OUT! RUN OUT! That should be the game for Peshawar Zalmi! This one is yet again, a slower delivery outside off. Sikandar Raza swats it towards the deep mid-wicket and calls for a double. But Saim Ayub is rapid enough to gather the ball and has a shy towards the striker's end. Haseebullah Khan quickly takes the bails off at the batting end and it's done and dusted for Lahore Qalandars!

Sikandar Raza walks in now. Can he be the hero for Lahore Qalandars?

OUT! TAKEN! Jahandad Khan holes out! Luke Wood gets the wicket! Slower delivery, off-cutter, outside off. Jahandad Khan covers the stump and heaves it across the line. It's the skipper Babar Azam at long on, who takes the skier and it's yet another important wicket for Peshawar Zalmi!

Fuller, on middle and leg. Rassie van der Dussen tries to flick it but thumps his pad. The ball rolls towards the keeper once again and they cross safely.

Excellent running in between! Back of a length outside off. Jahandad Khan tries to heave across the line but gets an inside edge on the pads and the ball rolls towards the keeper. They cross for a quick single.

Paul Walter has been given the task of bowling the final over with Lahore Qalandars needing 18 runs from 6 balls. Also, Peshawar Zalmi have been penalised for slow over-rate and they are allowed only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle for this last over.