Zalmi reach final on Babars century

Peshawar Zalmi secured a place in the Pakistan Super League final riding on a century from Babar Azam. They defeated Islamabad United by 70 runs in the qualifier, reaching the final for the first time since 2019.

Batting first after losing the toss, Zalmi were aggressive from the start. Mohammad Haris provided early momentum, laying a strong foundation for the innings. Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis then built a crucial partnership to push the total higher. While Mendis played a steady role, Babar controlled the innings and gradually accelerated.

The Zalmi captain turned destructive towards the end, completing his century off 57 balls and guiding his team to a strong total of 221. Late acceleration ensured a challenging target for the opposition.

In reply, Islamabad United got off to a quick start. However, they lost wickets regularly in the middle overs and fell out of contention. Aaron Hardie and Sufiyan Muqeem led the bowling effort, dismantling the batting lineup with disciplined performances.

United were eventually bowled out for 151. With this win, Zalmi advanced directly to the final, while Islamabad United were pushed into the eliminator.