Peshawar Zalmi stormed back into the Pakistan Super League 2025 with a ruthless all-round performance, crushing Multan Sultans by 120 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. This dominant display gave them their first win of the season and etched their name in PSL history with the tournament’s largest-ever margin of victory by runs.
After winning the toss, Zalmi skipper Babar Azam chose to bat first. The decision looked shaky early as both Babar and Saim Ayub fell within the first 13 deliveries, leaving Zalmi at 5 for 2. But what followed was an extraordinary counterattack. Mohammad Haris and Tom Kohler-Cadmore led the revival with an explosive 79-run stand off just 34 balls. Kohler-Cadmore struck a commanding 52 off 30, while Haris blazed his way to 45 from 21 balls.
Zalmi’s middle order kept the tempo high. Hussain Talat played the anchor’s role with 37 off 29. Mitchell Owen unleashed clean hits in his 34 off 15 balls, but it was Abdul Samad who dealt the final blow. The right-hander smashed 40 off just 14 balls at a staggering strike rate of 285.71. Zalmi finished at 227 for 7 — their highest total this season.
Multan’s bowlers found no rhythm. Akif Javed gave away 52 runs in four overs, including 24 in one over. Usama Mir was equally expensive, conceding 51. Only David Willey (2 for 36) and Michael Bracewell (2 for 37) managed some control.
In reply, Multan showed brief promise. Mohammad Rizwan hit a six early in his innings but was dismissed in the fourth over, deceived by a leg-break from Saim Ayub. Shai Hope and Usman Khan attempted to rebuild, adding 36 runs for the third wicket, but it was a short-lived effort. Arif Yaqoob removed Hope in the seventh over, and then the collapse began.
Multan lost their last eight wickets for just 44 runs. Usman Khan scored 44 off 22, striking four fours and three sixes, but no other batter crossed 20.
Ali Raza was the star with the ball. The 17-year-old pacer delivered a fiery spell, clocking speeds in the high 140s and finishing with 4 for 21. His scalps included Kamran Ghulam, Bracewell, Ashton Turner, and Iftikhar Ahmed. Arif Yaqoob chipped in with 3 for 20, and Owen wrapped things up with 2 for 2 as Multan folded for 107 in 15.5 overs.
This emphatic win broke Zalmi’s previous best margin of 76 runs and lifted them off the bottom of the table. For Multan, it marked their third straight loss, compounding concerns over their campaign.
Meanwhile, Babar Azam’s personal struggles continued. With scores of 0, 1, and now 2 in his first three matches, this marks the worst start to a PSL campaign in his career and his first stretch of three single-digit T20 scores in 13 years. While his leadership secured Zalmi their first win, his form with the bat remains a looming concern.