Rovman Powell's explosive 46 leads Peshawar Zalmi to nail-biting win over Lahore Qalandars in PSL thriller

Written by Leighton Levy. Posted in PSL. | 25 February 2024 | 480 Views
Tags: Cricket, Babar Azam, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Psl, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Rovman Powell, Sayim Ayub, Shahid Afridi, Shai Hope, T20

In a dazzling display of power-hitting, Rovman Powell emerged as the hero for Peshawar Zalmi in a nail-biting encounter against Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League on Sunday. Powell's brisk 46 played a pivotal role in setting the stage for Zalmi's thrilling eight-run victory.

The foundation for Peshawar Zalmi's imposing total of 211-4 was laid by the explosive opening pair of Sayim Ayub and Captain Babar Azam. The duo forged a formidable partnership of 136 runs before the experienced Shahid Afridi made a breakthrough in the 15th over, dismissing Azam for a well-compiled 48.

Ayub, undeterred by the fall of his partner, continued his aggressive onslaught on the opposition bowlers. The batsman hammered eight fours and four sixes on his way to a brilliant 88 before also falling victim to Afridi. With Ayub's departure, it was Rovman Powell's time to shine.

Powell entered the crease with a bang, unleashing a flurry of boundaries and sixes to propel Peshawar Zalmi past the 200-run mark. The Jamaican's exhilarating knock, which included five fours and two sixes, provided the crucial late flourish. Contributions from Mohammed Haris (12 from 5 balls) and Paul Walker (2 from 1 ball) took Zalmi to a formidable total.

In pursuit of the challenging target, Lahore Qalandars relied heavily on Rassie van der Dussen's breathtaking century. The South African batsman displayed remarkable stroke play, amassing an unbeaten 104 from just 52 balls, featuring seven fours and six sixes. However, despite van der Dussen's heroics, Lahore Qalandars fell short by eight runs, finishing at 203-6.

Shai Hope chipped in with 29, and Ahsan Hafeez contributed 20, but they couldn't provide the partnership needed to secure victory. Naveen-ul-Haq, despite being expensive with figures of 2-50 from his four overs, played a crucial role in containing the Qalandars' batting onslaught.

Ultimately, it was Rovman Powell's blistering innings and Peshawar Zalmi's collective effort that secured the thrilling win, marking a memorable encounter in the Pakistan Super League.