Zalmi Crush Kings in Record PSL Win as Mendis Stars

Peshawar Zalmi delivered a historic performance in match 17 of PSL 11, with Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam powering a crushing 159-run win over Karachi Kings in Karachi.

The victory marked the heaviest defeat in Pakistan Super League history, as Zalmi piled up 246 for 3 before bowling Kings out for just 87 inside 16.1 overs.

Mendis and Babar dominate with record stand

After losing Mohammad Haris early, Zalmi quickly seized control through a commanding partnership between Mendis and Babar. The pair added a record-breaking 191 runs, the highest partnership in PSL history.

Mendis led the charge with a sensational 109 off 52 balls, bringing up his century in just 48 deliveries — the fastest hundred by a Zalmi batter. Babar provided the perfect foil, finishing unbeaten on 87 from 51 balls.

Both batters showcased classical strokeplay, mixing precise timing with controlled aggression. Their stand ensured Zalmi reached 66 for 1 at the end of the powerplay and laid the foundation for a massive total.

During his innings, Babar also reached a significant milestone, becoming the fastest player to 12,000 T20 runs. He achieved the landmark in 338 innings, surpassing Chris Gayle’s record of 343 innings, reaching it with a six off Khushdil Shah.

Late surge lifts Zalmi to 246

While a total beyond 200 looked certain once Adam Zampa conceded 18 runs in the 13th over, Zalmi pushed further thanks to Abdul Samad’s explosive finish.

Samad hammered 40 off just 12 balls, taking Abbas Afridi for three sixes in the penultimate over and Mir Hamza for three fours and a six in the final over. His late blitz lifted Zalmi to their highest-ever PSL total of 246.

Karachi Kings were also hampered by the absence of Hasan Ali, who missed the game due to fever despite an impressive death-over economy rate of 4.80 this season.

Kings collapse under pressure

The chase never took off for Karachi Kings. Zalmi struck early, removing David Warner and Muhammad Waseem within the first seven balls, before Salman Ali Agha fell at the start of the third over.

Reduced to 8 for 3, Kings never recovered. The innings folded for just 87, marking the lowest PSL total recorded in Karachi.

Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, and Sufyan Muqeem shared nine wickets between them, with each picking up three wickets to seal a dominant win.

What this means

This emphatic victory reinforces Peshawar Zalmi’s strong start to PSL 11 and highlights their balance with both bat and ball. For Karachi Kings, the defeat exposes areas needing urgent improvement as the tournament progresses, particularly after losing their unbeaten run in such dramatic fashion.

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