Babar’s ton leads Zalmi to emphatic win over Gladiators

It was a high-class inning from a high-class player. Or, to simply put, it was knock that defined Babar Azam as a true batting genius.

The star batter had a dry spell of 67 innings without a T20 hundred, but the vintage Babar finally achieved the three-figure mark from 52 balls, helping Peshawar Zalmi rout a toothless Quetta Gladiators by 118 runs in the 29^th match of the HBL PSL 2026 at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Sunday night.

Needing two runs to reach the landmark on the last ball of the innings in which Peshawar posted a massive 255 for the loss of three wickets in 20 overs, the right-hander tucked the ball toward wide long on, and scrambled back for second, putting a full-stretch dive as a poor throw allowed him to get home safely.

And that was that.

The arena filled with festivity despite the emptiness in the stands, applause echoed from the dressing room, voices rose and rose behind the mic and Babar fist-pumped in triumphant celebration, having registered his third PSL century that comprised six fours and four sixes.

Zalmi, which reached the massive 255 mark on the back of their in-from Sri Lanka batter Kusal Mendis, who stuck a brilliant 83 off 44 balls, rattled Quetta out for just 137 with pacer Ali Raza picking up three wickets.

Peshawar’s batting demolition

Table-toppers Peshawar Zalmi made Quetta Gladiators captain Saud Shakeel pay for his decision to field first, getting off to a fast start.

Mohammad Haris set the tone with a quick 16-run cameo as Zalmi raced to 30 in just 1.3 overs before he was dismissed by Alzarri Joseph.

After that, Kusal Mendis joined Babar Azam, and the pair took control with a big 135-run partnership for the second wicket. The stand was broken by spinner Usman Tariq, who removed Mendis on the first ball of the 15th over. He scored 83 off 44 balls, hitting 10 fours and three sixes.

Babar then added 24 runs with Farhan Yousaf, who made a quick 19 off eight balls with two fours and a six. The Zalmi captain then teamed up with Aaron Hardie, and together they added an unbeaten 66 runs to finish strongly.

Babar reached his century on the last ball of the innings, while Hardie chipped in with 26 off just 10 balls, including three sixes.

Quetta’s meek response

Chasing a daunting 256, the Saud Shakeel-led Quetta Gladiators never really got going and were bowled out for 137 in 18.1 overs, falling well short of the target.

They lost early wickets and struggled to build any partnerships, which kept pushing them on the back foot throughout the chase.

Bevon Jacobs showed some resistance with 34 off 27 balls, while Shamyl Hussain added 21 at the top. Dinesh Chandimal and Alzarri Joseph chipped in with 19 each, but none of the batters could convert their starts.

For Peshawar Mohammad Basit and Ali Raza led the attack with three wickets each, breaking the backbone of the chase.

Aaron Hardie supported well with two wickets, while Sufiyan Muqeem and Michael Bracewell picked up one each to wrap up a dominant bowling performance.