In a match that crackled with tension, Peshawar Zalmi stormed to a commanding seven-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars on April 24, 2025, in the HBL Pakistan Super League’s 10th season. The Dubai International Stadium buzzed as Zalmi’s all-rounder Hussain Talat and pace spearhead Alzarri Joseph dismantled their rivals with a performance that was as clinical as it was thrilling.
Qalandars, batting first after losing the toss, crumbled under pressure. Their innings never found rhythm, stuttering to a meager 129 all out in 19.2 overs. Sikandar Raza fought a lone battle, carving out a defiant 52 off 36 balls, peppered with three fours and two sixes. But his effort was a flicker in the gloom. Zalmi’s bowlers, led by Joseph’s fiery 3 for 16, tore through the lineup. The West Indian pacer’s raw speed and pinpoint yorkers left Qalandars reeling, with key wickets falling like dominoes. Support came from Saim Ayub and Luke Wood, each snaring two scalps, while Naveen-ul-Haq chipped in with one. Lahore’s top order—Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, and Shai Hope—flopped, managing just 25 runs between them.
Chasing 130, Zalmi wobbled early. Openers Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris fell cheaply, leaving them 28 for 2. But Babar Azam, cool as ever, anchored the innings with a measured 56 off 46 balls, his knock a mix of elegant drives and gritty nudges. Hussain Talat, batting at four, matched his captain’s composure, blasting an unbeaten 51 off 37 balls. His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, with five fours and two sixes, including a monstrous hit that cleared the stands. Together, they stitched a 92-run stand that sucked the life out of Qalandars’ hopes. By the time Babar departed, the job was nearly done. Hussain stayed till the end, steering Zalmi home with 20 balls to spare.
Qalandars’ bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi, tried to claw back. Afridi snagged two wickets, and Raza took one, but their efforts were too little, too late. The pitch, offering slight assistance to pacers, couldn’t mask Lahore’s batting collapse or their inability to break Zalmi’s backbone.
The win handed Zalmi two vital points, boosting their playoff hopes in a fiercely competitive season. For Qalandars, it was another grim chapter in a campaign plagued by inconsistency. The match, played under floodlights in front of a roaring crowd, showcased Zalmi’s depth and hunger, with Hussain’s all-round heroics and Joseph’s lethal pace proving the difference.
Peshawar Zalmi scored 132 for 3 in 16.4 overs, chasing Lahore Qalandars’ 129 in 19.2 overs. Hussain Talat was named player of the match for his unbeaten 51 and economical bowling.