Peshawar Zalmi Beat Quetta Gladiators by 8 Wickets in PSL 2026 Match 23 at Karachi
Peshawar Zalmi are sitting at the top of the PSL 2026 standings after a dominant 8-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators in Match 23 at National Stadium, Karachi, on April 15, 2026. Babar Azam anchored the chase with a composed 71 not out, and Zalmi crossed the 155-run target in just 18.3 overs.
Match Summary: Zalmi vs Gladiators, Match 23
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | 23rd Match, PSL 2026 |
| Venue | National Stadium, Karachi |
| Date | April 15, 2026 (Night) |
| Toss | Peshawar Zalmi won, elected to field |
| Result | Peshawar Zalmi won by 8 wickets |
| Gladiators Total | 154/10 (20 overs) |
| Zalmi Total | 156/2 (18.3 overs) |
| Player of Match | Babar Azam (71* off 51 balls) |
Quetta managed a competitive 154 but Zalmi’s top order made the chase look easy. Babar Azam reached his fifty off just 37 balls and finished unbeaten on 71, while Mohammad Haris gave the team a flying start with 35 off 28 at the top.
Quetta Gladiators Innings: 154 All Out
Quetta got off to a slow start. Ahsan Ali fell for just 4 in the first over. Saud Shakeel added 16 before a run-out at 4.2 overs, leaving the side at 39/2. It was Rilee Rossouw who threatened briefly with a 26-ball 26, but Sufiyan Muqeem cleaned him up to put Zalmi back in control.
Hasan Nawaz was the pick of the Quetta batters, grinding out 37 off 35 to give the innings some shape. Tom Curran chipped in with a handy 15 at the death, but the total never felt truly threatening.
Quetta Batting Highlights
| Batter | Runs | Balls | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahsan Ali | 4 | 3 | 133.33 | c Haris b Iftikhar |
| Rilee Rossouw | 26 | 18 | 144.44 | b Sufiyan Muqeem |
| Hasan Nawaz | 37 | 35 | 105.71 | c Haris b Basit |
| Khawaja Nafay | 20 | 13 | 153.84 | lbw b Sufiyan Muqeem |
| Tom Curran | 15 | 10 | 150.00 | c Farhan b Basit |
Mohammad Basit and Sufiyan Muqeem shared the wickets, each taking three. Basit finished with 3/36 off four overs and Muqeem claimed 3/25. Iftikhar Ahmed was tidy too with 2/20.
Zalmi Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iftikhar Ahmed | 4 | 20 | 2 | 5.00 |
| Sufiyan Muqeem | 4 | 25 | 3 | 6.25 |
| Mohammad Basit | 4 | 36 | 3 | 9.00 |
| Ali Raza | 4 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
| Aaron Hardie | 2 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 |
Peshawar Zalmi Chase: 156/2 in 18.3 Overs
Zalmi’s chase was clinical from the start. Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam added 75 for the opening wicket in just 8.4 overs. Haris was dismissed for 35, but by then the target was well within reach.
Kusal Mendis came in and scored 21 before Alzarri Joseph removed him at 15.1. Babar continued unperturbed and saw the chase home alongside Aaron Hardie, who finished 18 not out off 14 balls. Zalmi reached 150 in 18.1 overs and completed the win two balls later.
Babar’s knock was exactly what PSL fans expect from him. Patient when needed, attacking when the time was right. Seven boundaries in his 51-ball innings kept the run rate healthy throughout.
Zalmi Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Haris | 35 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 125.00 |
| Babar Azam* | 71 | 51 | 7 | 1 | 139.21 |
| Kusal Mendis | 21 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 110.52 |
| Aaron Hardie* | 18 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 128.57 |
Quetta’s Alzarri Joseph was their best bowler with 1/32, and Abrar Ahmed was economical with 1/31 off four. But no one could stop Babar on this wicket.
What This Result Means
Zalmi’s eight-wicket win keeps them at the top of the PSL 2026 points table and extends their excellent run of form in the tournament. Their bowling unit looks settled, and with Babar in this kind of touch, few sides look capable of stopping them.
Quetta, on the other hand, slide further down the standings after a second consecutive defeat. They need to find more firepower in the middle overs if they want to stay in contention.
Keep an eye on the PSL 2026 points table to track how this result moves the standings, and check the PSL 2026 schedule for upcoming fixtures.
FAQs
Who won PSL 2026 Match 23? Peshawar Zalmi won by 8 wickets against Quetta Gladiators at National Stadium, Karachi on April 15, 2026.
Who was the top scorer in Match 23? Babar Azam top-scored for Zalmi with an unbeaten 71 off 51 balls.
Who were the top wicket takers for Zalmi? Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit each took three wickets. Iftikhar Ahmed picked up two.
How many balls were remaining when Zalmi won? Zalmi crossed the target in 18.3 overs, leaving 9 balls remaining.
What was Quetta’s total in Match 23? Quetta Gladiators were bowled out for 154 in 20 overs.
What was the opening partnership for Zalmi in the chase? Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam put on 75 runs for the first wicket off just 30 balls.
