The Rawalpindi Pindiz franchise made their official Pakistan Super League debut on Saturday. They lost. Peshawar Zalmi chased down a massive 215-run target to win by five wickets at Gaddafi Stadium. The match ended with Zalmi reaching 218 for 5 with five balls to spare.
Rawalpindi opener Yasir Khan nearly spoiled the party with a blistering 83 off 46 balls. His innings set up an imposing 214 for 4. A late-innings counterattack from Michael Bracewell and Abdul Samad completely dismantled the Pindiz bowling attack in the final overs to steal the victory.
Peshawar needed momentum early. Captain Babar Azam scored 39 off 28 balls. Mohammad Haris added 47 off 28. They built a solid foundation. The required run rate kept climbing.
That brought Bracewell and Samad to the crease. Samad faced just 11 deliveries. He hit four sixes and scored 33 runs. Bracewell finished unbeaten on 35 from 17 balls. Aamer Jamal closed the game out with 17 not out off five balls.
The chase exploited weaknesses in the new Pindiz bowling lineup. Naseem Shah conceded 51 runs in four overs without taking a wicket. Mohammad Amir took one wicket but gave up 49 runs. Both premier pacers proved deeply expensive under pressure.
Earlier in the evening, Rawalpindi looked dominant. Yasir Khan anchored the first innings. He smashed six sixes during his 83-run knock. Captain Mohammad Rizwan provided stability with 41 off 32 balls. Kamran Ghulam added a rapid 37 off 20 deliveries. Ali Raza was the most effective bowler for Peshawar, taking two wickets for 42 runs in three overs, according to a detailed report of the match.
The result gives Peshawar an important early win in the tournament standings. Rawalpindi must regroup before their next fixture in the world of franchise cricket.