Zalmi Clinch Last-Ball Thriller Against Kingsmen in PSL 11 After Iftikhar’s Heroics

KARACHI: In a nerve-wracking finish, Peshawar Zalmi cruised to a dramatic four-wicket, last-ball victory over struggling Hyderabad Kingsmen to register their second win of the ongoing 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to a heroic performance from Pakistan’s senior all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed.

Zalmi started with real intent as Haris cleared the ropes with a massive six off the very first ball of the innings. Theekshana struck back to dismiss him in the following over, but Mendis and Babar kept the momentum going, guiding the team to 56 runs in the Powerplay.

Their 49-run stand eventually ended in the ninth over when Mendis slog swept a catch to the fielder on the leg-side boundary. Babar and Bracewell then took charge of the chase until Saim broke through in the 14th over, dismissing Bracewell for 25 runs. The Kingsmen surged back as Babar departed for 43 runs in the very next over to Hassan Khan.

Mohammad Ali then turned the tide in the 17th, conceding just two runs and picking up a wicket, then Hunain removed Samad in the 18th to send the required rate climbing over 8.50. With Ali and Hunain combined to bowl nine consecutive dot balls at the death overs, it seemed the Kingsmen's seamers had the game secured. However, Iftikhar Ahmed had other plans; a four and a six in the final over flipped the script completely to seal it for Zalmi.

It's a heartbreaking result for Labuschagne's men, who are still searching for their first win of the season. With this victory, Zalmi climb to fourth in the standings. Post-match coverage is coming up shortly.

Batting first, Kingsmen were bundled out for 145 in 18.2 overs. The innings got off to a promising start as openers Maaz Sadaqat and Saim Ayub added valuable runs early on.

However, the 26-run opening stand was broken in the third over when Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed Sadaqat for 17 off eight balls, which included three boundaries.

Iftikhar struck again in his second over, removing two established batters. Saim Ayub fell for 14 off 15 deliveries, with two fours, followed by Usman Khan, who was out for a duck, leaving Hyderabad struggling at 33-3 in 4.3 overs.

Iftikhar continued his fiery spell, claiming another wicket as he clean bowled Sharjeel Khan for two off five balls, further intensifying the pressure on the Kingsmen. Skipper Marnus Labuschagne and Kusal Perera then combined to steady the innings, putting together a crucial 50-run partnership that helped Hyderabad cross the 50-run mark.

The duo batted sensibly, taking the score past 100 before the partnership was broken by Sufiyan Muqeem, who dismissed Labuschagne for a run-a-ball 27, which included three boundaries, leaving the team at 116-5 in 14.1 overs.

Perera shone with the bat, raising his third PSL fifty with a well-paced and impactful innings. However, Muqeem struck again in the final stages, dismantling the Kingsmen’s lower order.

In his last over, he removed Irfan Khan Niazi for nine, Kusal Perera for 58 off 35 balls, which included five fours and two sixes, and finally Maheesh Theekshana for a duck. Hunain Shah became the ninth Kingsmen wicket as he was run out by Farhan Yousuf with a direct hit without facing a delivery, while Hassan Khan was the last batsman dismissed by Aamer Jamal after scoring nine runs.

Iftikhar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem were the standout bowlers for Zalmi, sharing eight wickets between them. Iftikhar claimed 4/21 in his four overs, while Sufiyan took 4/32 in his four-over spell. Aamer Jamal also contributed with one wicket.