Kusal Mendis, Babar Azam Power Peshawar Zalmi to Big Win Over Lahore Qalandars

Kusal Mendis won player of the match award

Peshawar Zalmi continued their dream run in PSL 2026 with another commanding performance, crushing Lahore Qalandars by 76 runs and climbing to the top of the points table. It was a complete team effort — a classy knock from Kusal Mendis, solid support from Babar Azam, and a ruthless bowling display that left Qalandars stunned.

After being put under early pressure with the quick dismissal of Mohammad Haris, Zalmi once again turned to their dependable duo — Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis. The pair didn’t panic. Instead, they rebuilt the innings with patience and smart shot selection.

Kusal Mendis, however, was in no mood to stay quiet for long. He took the attack to the bowlers, finding boundaries against Shaheen Afridi and Ubaid Shah with confidence. His aggressive intent allowed Babar to settle in and play his natural anchor role. Together, they stitched a crucial 109-run partnership that laid the foundation for a strong total.

Mendis was the standout performer, smashing 74 off just 48 balls, including five fours and four towering sixes. Babar Azam, calm and composed as always, contributed 43 runs, narrowly missing out on a half-century. There was a brief moment of concern when he was struck near the neck by a bouncer, but thankfully, it wasn’t serious, and he continued batting after treatment.

Zalmi looked set for an even bigger total, but Lahore Qalandars fought back impressively in the death overs. Shaheen Afridi, Mustafizur Rahman, and Ubaid Shah executed their plans perfectly, restricting Zalmi to 173 for 7. The last four overs yielded just 33 runs and saw five wickets fall, giving Qalandars a glimmer of hope.

But that hope didn’t last long.

Chasing 174, Lahore Qalandars never really got going. The pitch had enough bounce and movement, and Zalmi’s bowlers exploited it brilliantly. Early breakthroughs from Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana put Qalandars on the back foot right away.

Then came the middle overs, where the game completely slipped away. Michael Bracewell and Sufiyan Muqeem turned the screws with disciplined and attacking bowling. Bracewell picked up three crucial wickets, while Muqeem matched him with three of his own, continuing his impressive form this season.

The Qalandars’ batting lineup collapsed under pressure and was bundled out for just 97 runs. Fakhar Zaman’s 21 was the highest score, but it was never going to be enough in such a challenging chase.

Nahid Rana also played his part with two wickets, ensuring there was no way back for the opposition.

With this emphatic win, Peshawar Zalmi not only maintained their unbeaten streak but also secured the top position on the points table. On the other hand, Lahore Qalandars are struggling to find momentum, and back-to-back heavy defeats have badly hurt their net run rate.

Zalmi look like a team on a mission this season — balanced, confident, and firing in all departments. If they continue this form, they will be one of the toughest sides to stop in PSL 2026.