Babar Azam Hits Major T20 Milestone As Peshawar Zalmi Outclass Quetta Gladiators

Peshawar Zalmi’s golden run in HBL PSL 11 continues. Led by a historic performance from captain Babar Azam, Zalmi cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday night. The win, their sixth in seven matches, not only solidifies their spot at the top of the standings with 13 points but also marks a massive personal achievement for the world’s top-ranked batter.

Here is how the leaders extended their winning streak in Karachi.

Babar Joins The Elite 100 Club

Babar Azam’s unbeaten 71 off 51 balls was more than just a match-winning knock; it was his 100th half-century in T20 cricket. He now joins an exclusive list of global icons David Warner, Virat Kohli, and Jos Buttler as the only players to reach the century mark for fifties in the shortest format. His innings, decorated with 10 boundaries, ensured there were no hiccups in Zalmi’s pursuit of a modest 155-run target.

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The Young Guns Step Up

While the captain finished the job, the foundation was laid by 21-year-old spinner Sufiyan Muqeem. Muqeem etched his name into the record books by becoming the first Pakistani bowler to take three or more wickets in five consecutive T20 matches. His disciplined spell of 3/25, supported by Mohammad Basit Ali’s 3/36, triggered a mid-innings collapse for the Gladiators, who were eventually bundled out for 154.

Rilee Rossouw’s Century Of Games

It was also a landmark evening for Quetta’s veteran, Rilee Rossouw. He became the first overseas player and only the fourth overall to feature in 100 HBL PSL matches. Rossouw showed flashes of his trademark brilliance with a brisk 26 off 16, but his dismissal by Muqeem in the eighth over left the Gladiators struggling to find momentum against a relentless Zalmi attack.

Zalmi Close In On The Playoffs

With this victory, Peshawar Zalmi are now within touching distance of a playoff spot. Their balanced mix of aggressive opening bursts led by Mohammad Haris (35 off 28) and Babar’s steady anchoring has made them the team to beat this season. As the tournament heads into its business end, Zalmi’s “invincible” tag remains firmly intact.

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