A bizarre scramble during a free-hit in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) grabbed attention, even as Peshawar Zalmi sealed an eight-wicket victory over the Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday. The incident involved Abrar Ahmed, who was facing the free hit after Ali Raza overstepped with a waist-high no-ball. As the ball came off the bat, confusion erupted between the batters in the middle. Abrar steered the delivery toward backward point and appeared to be looking for a quick single, while Usman Tariq had already advanced a long way down the pitch before being forced to retreat. The fielder gathered the ball and initially moved to execute a run-out at the striker’s end, but then altered course and threw the ball toward the bowler’s end instead. The throw missed its target, and Usman would likely have been dismissed if the ball had struck the stumps.
While that moment created plenty of noise, Zalmi kept their composure and managed the game effectively. Quetta were held to 154, with the bowling effort led by Sufiyan Muqeem and Iftikhar Ahmed, who shaped the contest by applying pressure at key stages.
In reply, Babar Azam anchored the chase with an unbeaten 71 from 51 balls. He built crucial partnerships with Mohammad Haris and Kusal Mendis, and once those stands were set, Zalmi chased the target comfortably to complete the win with ease. The result extended Zalmi’s dominance in the run of games, as they kept rolling toward the business end of the tournament.
The triumph moved Peshawar Zalmi closer to playoff qualification and ensured they remained at the top of the standings. It was also their sixth win in seven matches, and their fifth consecutive success following the washout against three-time champions Islamabad United in Lahore.
