Match overview
Peshawar Zalmi beat Rawalpindiz by 5 wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 28 March 2026. Rawalpindiz won the toss and chose to bat, compiling a competitive 214/4 on a surface that historically favours first innings. Zalmi's response was authoritative: 62 runs without loss in the powerplay, a middle-overs wobble that cost 4 wickets, and then 77 runs from just 1 wicket in the death overs. They crossed the line at 218/5. MG Bracewell took the Player of the Match award. The result bucked a significant historical trend: Gaddafi Stadium produces a successful chase in only 43% of T20 matches across 145 games at the venue.
The margin of 5 wickets flatters neither team. Rawalpindiz posted above the ground's average first-innings score of 208 and applied genuine pressure through the middle phase, where Zalmi lost 4 wickets for 79 runs in overs 7 to 16. What rescued the chase was Zalmi's batting in the final four overs, where they scored at a pace Rawalpindiz could not match in the equivalent phase.
Venue and conditions
Gaddafi Stadium is one of Pakistan's most storied T20 venues. Across 145 matches, the average first-innings total is 208 and the average second-innings score drops to 177. That 31-run gap is partly structural: the pitch tends to slow under lights, and dew, when present, can assist batting in the second innings but rarely enough to fully neutralise the first-innings advantage. The toss-field rate sits at 49%, meaning captains are broadly split on whether to bowl first after winning the toss.
The powerplay average at this ground is 46 runs. Both sides exceeded that comfortably: Rawalpindiz hit 63 without loss and Zalmi managed 62 without loss, suggesting the pitch on this occasion was particularly good for batting early. At the death, the venue average is 43 runs. Rawalpindiz posted 62 in the final phase; Zalmi went one better with 77. On a ground where batting collapses in the death are common, both teams' final-over batting was exceptional by historical standards.
The chase success rate of 43% underlines how difficult it is to bat second here. Zalmi's win is the exception rather than the rule at this venue, which should be context for any assessment of the result.
How to watch
PSL matches are broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming available via Sky Go and NOW TV. UK viewers should be aware that matches played in Pakistan typically begin in the mid-to-late afternoon or evening local time, which translates to afternoon and early evening kickoffs in British Summer Time. Check the Sky Sports schedule for exact times ahead of future fixtures.
Highlights and short-form clips are also available through the official PSL YouTube channel and the PCB's digital platforms for fans who miss the live broadcast.
Recent form
Peshawar Zalmi arrived at this fixture with a mixed recent record: three losses and two wins from their previous five PSL matches in 2025. Their defeats came against Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, and Quetta Gladiators; wins came against Multan Sultans and Islamabad United. A side capable of beating Islamabad United and Multan Sultans in the same run of form has obvious quality, but the inconsistency suggested a team still finding its best combination. This result against Rawalpindiz will carry confidence into their next fixture. No recent-form data was available for Rawalpindiz ahead of this match.