The National Bank Stadium in Karachi once again hosted a match behind closed doors as the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League continues under government austerity measures, with no spectators allowed.
In the quiet surroundings, it was Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam who dominated the evening, guiding his side to an eight-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators with an unbeaten 71-run innings. Zalmi chased down the 156-run target with nine balls remaining, extending their winning streak to six matches and strengthening their position at the top of the table.
Quetta Gladiators were earlier restricted to 154 runs, falling short despite some promising starts. Their innings never fully settled, as Zalmi’s bowling attack maintained pressure throughout the innings. Left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem led the charge with three wickets, while Mohammad Basit also claimed three scalps in a disciplined bowling performance.
Gladiators lost early wickets, including Ahsan Ali and captain Saud Shakeel, before Rilee Rossouw briefly lifted momentum with a quick 26. However, regular breakthroughs halted their progress, and despite Hasan Nawaz’s top score of 37, the side failed to build a strong finish and were bowled out on the final delivery.
In response, Zalmi’s chase began confidently with a 75-run opening stand between Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris, who scored 35. Haris fell in the ninth over, but by then the foundation had already been set.
Babar continued to anchor the innings with composed stroke play, reaching his half-century in just 37 balls and controlling the chase with ease. His timing and placement stood out in the empty stadium, where every shot echoed clearly in the absence of crowd noise.
Kusal Mendis contributed 21 runs, while Aaron Hardie remained unbeaten on 18 to support the chase. Babar eventually finished the match in style, sealing victory with a boundary as Zalmi comfortably crossed the line.
With this result, Zalmi continue their strong run in the tournament, while Quetta Gladiators struggle to find consistency, remaining in the lower half of the standings.