Peshawar Zalmi stormed to a record-breaking victory over Quetta Gladiators, crushing them by 118 runs in Sunday’s second clash at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi, as Babar Azam lit up the night with his third HBL PSL century.
Zalmi’s mammoth 255-3 — the third-highest total in PSL history and only the fifth score above 250 — was powered by Babar’s unbeaten 100 off 52 balls, featuring six fours and four sixes. He shared a 135-run stand with Kusal Mendis (83 off 44) and later added a blistering 66-run partnership with Aaron Hardie (26* off 10). The innings peaked with 76 runs in the final five overs, capped by Babar reaching his milestone on the last ball.
Quetta’s bowlers were taken apart, with Jahandad Khan, Usman Tariq, and Alzarri Joseph each conceding over 50 runs. In reply, Zalmi’s rookie pace duo Ali Raza (3-9) and Mohammad Basit (3-26) ripped through the top order, reducing Gladiators to 42-3 inside the powerplay. Despite brief resistance from Bevon Jacobs (34) and Dinesh Chandimal (19), Quetta folded for 137 in 18.1 overs.
The emphatic win gave Zalmi their second massive margin of the season — after a 159-run triumph over Karachi Kings earlier this month — and lifted them to 15 points from eight matches. Monday, 20 April will be a rest day before PSL action resumes with double-headers in Lahore and Karachi on Tuesday.