Zalmi thrash Qalandars in HBL PSL

Kusal Mendis struck a commanding 74 as Peshawar Zalmi defeated Lahore Qalandars by 76 runs in the HBL Pakistan Super League at the National Bank Stadium on Friday, with Shaheen Shah Afridi's three-wicket haul unable to prevent another batting collapse for the defending champions. Zalmi posted 173 for seven after being asked to bat first, before their bowlers dismantled Qalandars for 97 in 17 overs, sealing a comprehensive victory that lifted them to second place in the table and extended their unbeaten run in the tournament. Batting on a surface that offered variable bounce and grip, Zalmi relied on a measured innings led by Mendis, who anchored the effort with a fluent yet controlled 74. Captain Babar Azam contributed 43, ensuring stability through the middle overs, while Michael Bracewell added a brisk 21 to push the total towards a competitive finish. Shaheen Afridi led the Qalandars attack with three wickets, removing Mohammad Haris, Mendis and Farhan Yousaf in a disciplined spell that briefly checked Zalmi's momentum. Usama Mir and Mustafizur Rahman also chipped in with breakthroughs as Lahore's bowlers kept the scoring under control, though they were unable to prevent Zalmi from reaching a defendable total. Chasing 174, Lahore's innings unravelled early and never recovered. Shoriful Islam struck first by dismissing Mohammad Naeem, setting the tone for a collapse that saw wickets fall at regular intervals throughout the innings. Nahid Rana and Bracewell combined to tighten Zalmi's grip, with Bracewell producing a key breakthrough when Sikandar Raza was dismissed for 14. Attempting to pull a flatter delivery that was not short enough, Raza miscued the shot towards deep mid-wicket where Mohammad Haris completed a comfortable catch. Bracewell earlier removed Fakhar Zaman for 21, halting a brief attempt at resistance. Fakhar also reached a personal milestone during the match, becoming only the third player to appear in 100 HBL Pakistan Super League matches, underlining his long-standing presence in the competition. Sufiyan Muqeem further dismantled the middle order, striking twice to remove Asif Ali and Shaheen Afridi, as Lahore's chase lost shape completely. Nahid Rana added to the damage by dismissing Usama Mir cheaply, while Muqeem struck again to remove Ubaid Shah. Aamer Jamal later ended the innings by dismissing Dunith Wellalage for 20, wrapping up a collapse that saw Lahore bowled out well short of the target in just 17 overs. Despite Shaheen's three wickets - including the key scalps of Haris, Mendis and Farhan Yousaf - Qalandars were unable to build sustained pressure as Zalmi's top order had already laid a solid foundation. Babar Azam said conditions required patience and adaptability, praising Mendis for his ability to control the innings. "The pitch played differently from the previous game. The idea was not to lose wickets. Mendis stepped up and dominated the spinners. We played according to the situation and focused on rotating strike," he said. The defeat highlighted ongoing concerns for Lahore, whose batting lineup once again failed to build partnerships or absorb pressure in a run chase. Their innings was marked by frequent breakthroughs and an inability to recover once early wickets fell.