LAHORE: In a thrilling encounter during the 31st match of the Pakistan Super League’s 11th season, Peshawar Zalmi’s young sensation Ali Raza etched his name into the record books by claiming a brilliant hat-trick against Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The fast bowler achieved the historic feat in the final over of the Kings’ innings, dismissing Khushdil Shah, Shahid Aziz, and Hasan Ali on three consecutive deliveries. This marks the seventh hat-trick in the history of the PSL, joining an elite list of bowlers that includes Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, and Abbas Afridi. Following his performance, Raza credited his success to the guidance of senior bowlers and the support of the cricket board and team management.
The milestone performance helped Peshawar Zalmi restrict Karachi Kings to 182 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs, setting a victory target of 183 runs. Karachi Kings had earlier won the toss and elected to bat first, with captain David Warner noting that the pitch appeared favourable for scoring. Opening batsman Jason Roy led the charge for the Kings with a commanding 85 runs, while Azam Khan contributed a brisk 35. Other notable contributions came from Reza Hendricks with 13 runs, and both Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah, who added 12 runs each to the total.
Despite the strong start from the Kings’ top order, Raza’s late-inning heroics shifted the momentum back toward the Zalmi camp. At the toss, Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam mentioned that the team had made one strategic change for the match, emphasising that the squad remains strictly focused on their performance in the round matches. The contest remains finely balanced as Zalmi prepares to chase down the 183-run target in front of a packed Lahore crowd.
