Unstoppable Zalmi: Kusal Mendis and Farhan Yousaf Power Peshawar to Eighth Straight Victory

 

In a high-scoring thriller at the Gaddafi Stadium today, Peshawar Zalmi extended their remarkable unbeaten run in PSL 2026 with a commanding seven-wicket win over Karachi Kings. Opting to bat first, the Kings posted a competitive 182/9, anchored by a brilliant 85 off 51 balls from Jason Roy. Roy looked in sublime touch, finding the boundary 11 times, and was well-supported by a brisk 35 from Azam Khan. However, a late-innings collapse triggered by Ali Raza’s exceptional 4-wicket haul (4/41) prevented Karachi from crossing the 200-mark, leaving them with a total that felt slightly under par on a batting-friendly Lahore surface.

Peshawar Zalmi’s chase began with intent, as Babar Azam and James Vince provided a steady start before both fell in the powerplay. With the game finely balanced, Kusal Mendis took center stage, delivering a masterclass in T20 batting. Mendis remained unbeaten on 80 off just 43 deliveries*, a knock featuring 5 fours and 4 towering sixes. He found the perfect partner in the emerging Farhan Yousaf, who played a composed yet aggressive innings of 58 off 36 balls*. Together, they shared a match-winning partnership that steered Zalmi home with 7 balls to spare, finishing at 186/3.

This victory marks an incredible eighth consecutive win for Peshawar Zalmi, making them the only undefeated side in the tournament and virtually securing their top-seed status for the playoffs. For Karachi Kings, it was another disappointing night where their bowling unit, led by Abbas Afridi and Hasan Ali, failed to contain the momentum once Mendis and Yousaf settled in. While the Kings showed promise with the bat through Roy, their inability to close out the innings with the ball remains a concern as the league stage nears its conclusion.