Match overview

Lahore Qalandars beat Peshawar Zalmi by 26 runs in their PSL 2025 encounter at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 18 May 2025. Lahore posted 149/8 batting first, a total that looked modest on a ground with an average first-innings score of 214. Peshawar, who had won the toss and chosen to chase, were undone by a catastrophic powerplay: four wickets fell for 48 runs in the first six overs, and they never found the momentum to threaten the target. Zalmi were eventually dismissed for 123/8. Salman Mirza took the Player of the Match award.

The innings contrast was stark in the powerplay phase. Lahore scored 80 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in their first six overs, well above the ground average of 41. Peshawar's reply began with 48 runs but at the cost of 4 wickets. That swing of 32 runs and two wickets across the powerplay phase made the result, in truth, a formality well before the halfway point of the chase.

Both teams were competitive through the middle overs: Lahore managed 69 runs for 6 wickets between overs 7 and 20, while Peshawar scored 75 for 4 in the same phase. The middle was almost a draw. But chasing a target when four of your top-order batters are already back in the pavilion is a different game entirely.

Venue and conditions

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has hosted 79 T20 matches, and the numbers describe a ground that generally rewards batters. The average first-innings score is 214, and the average second-innings score of 208 suggests relatively flat pitches that hold their pace throughout. Both teams fell dramatically short of those benchmarks: Lahore's 149 was 65 runs below the first-innings average.

The toss carries meaningful weight at this ground. Teams winning the toss choose to field 58% of the time, and with a 60% chase success rate, the statistics broadly justify the instinct. Peshawar followed the percentages; they simply could not execute in the powerplay. The death overs are also significant at Rawalpindi, where the average death contribution is 34 runs per innings. Neither team recorded any death-over runs in the data for this fixture, pointing to an earlier collapse on both sides that made the final overs largely academic.

How to watch

PSL fixtures are broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming available through Sky Go and NOW TV for subscribers. Kick-off times for evening matches in Pakistan typically fall in the mid-to-late afternoon on UK clocks, though the exact window shifts through the tournament schedule. Checking the Sky Sports listings in advance is advisable to confirm the UK start time for each game.

For fans without a Sky subscription, highlights and secondary coverage are available through various digital platforms, though live rights for PSL in the UK sit with Sky Sports.

Recent form

Both sides arrived at this match with mixed recent records. Lahore Qalandars had won two of their previous five PSL fixtures in 2025, defeating Islamabad United and Multan Sultans, but losing to Karachi Kings and most recently to Peshawar Zalmi. The no-result against Quetta Gladiators complicated their rhythm further.

Peshawar Zalmi came in with three wins from five, beating Multan Sultans, Islamabad United, and Lahore Qalandars in that run. Their losses came against Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators. On the back of that form, Zalmi might have been considered marginal favourites. The powerplay told a different story. Lahore's response here keeps them competitive in the PSL standings, and the two sides could yet meet again before the tournament concludes.