Mendis’ fifty lifts Peshawar Zalmi to 196/6 against Multan Sultans

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi posted a 197-run target against Multan Sultans, powered by Kusal Mendis’ 40-ball 68, in the 22nd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Monday.

Sultans captain Ashton Turner’s decision to field first backfired as the leaders piled up 196/6 in their 20 overs.

Zalmi got off to a flying start to their innings as their opening pair of Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam yielded 48 runs at a brisk pace.

Haris, who dominated the opening stand, was eventually dismissed by Peter Siddle in the fifth over and walked back after scoring a blistering 40 off just 17 deliveries, laced with four sixes and three fours.

Babar then shared a brief 24-run partnership for the second wicket with Mendis until falling victim to Mohammad Nawaz in the eighth over after scoring a scratchy 18 off 20 deliveries with the help of one six. Mendis was then joined by emerging batter Farhan Yousaf, and the duo dominated the crucial middle phase to add 63 runs off just 38 deliveries until Mohammad Wasim Jr gave Sultans a much-needed breakthrough in the 15th over by dismissing the latter, who made a 22-ball 30 with the help of three sixes.

The wicketkeeper batter was then involved in a 34-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Michael Bracewell (14) before both were sent back by Mohammad Ismail in the 18th over.

Kusal Mendis remained the top-scorer for Zalmi with a quickfire 68 off 40 deliveries, studded with four fours and three sixes.

Following his departure, middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed added valuable runs to Zalmi’s total at the backend with an 11-run cameo off just five deliveries before falling victim to Siddle in the final over.

For Sultans, Siddle and Ismail bagged two wickets each, while Nawaz and Wasim Jr made one scalp apiece. Sports Desk