KARACHI: Babar Azam stroked his first T20 century in 67 matches — his 12th overall in 355 appearances — as Peshawar Zalmi sealed a place in the Qualifier by demolishing Quetta Gladiators by 118 runs in the 29th match of the Pakistan Super League on Sunday. In the other match, Multan Sultans edged closer to the play-offs when they outsmarted Karachi Kings by 11 runs.

Babar scored 100 not out at a strike-rate of 192 and added 135 for the second wicket off 75 balls with Kusal Mendis (83) as Zalmi posted a mammoth 255 for three — the third-highest total in PSL history. Quetta Gladiators faded in the PowerPlay, slipping to 42 for three before capitulating to 137 in 18.1 overs.

In the afternoon match, even contributions from the middle-order helped Multan Sultans post 207 for seven. Arafat Minhas then took three for 32 and 41-year-old Peter Siddle two for 28 as Karachi Kings were bowled out for 196 in 19.4 overs after requiring 23 runs from the last 12 balls with three wickets in hand.

Sunday’s results mean Peshawar Zalmi have moved to 15 points from eight matches and will play their Qualifier in Karachi on April 28, while Multan Sultans are on 10 points from seven matches. Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings remain on six points each alongside Hyderabad Kingsmen and Lahore Qalandars, with Gladiators momentarily in fourth position and Kings slipping to seventh.

Gladiators travel to Lahore on Monday for a Tuesday afternoon match against Lahore Qalandars. Under Karachi’s floodlights, Sultans will aim to extend Rawalpindiz’s losing streak to eight matches and secure a play-off place.

The story of Sunday was undoubtedly Babar Azam, who completed his century off the last ball of the innings after scrambling a second run. He had reached his fifty off 31 balls with four fours, while his next 50 came off 21 balls with two fours and four sixes.

Babar accelerated after Kusal Mendis departed for an excellent 83 off 44 balls with 10 fours and three sixes — his third half-century to go with a century this season. Mendis, dropped by Hasan Nawaz off Jahandad Khan when on 10, had reached his fifty off 24 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

Babar and Mendis are locked in a battle for the leading run-scorer’s title. Mendis leads with 413 runs from seven matches, while Babar is 12 runs behind on 401. Quetta Gladiators’ Hasan Raza is a distant third on 288 runs.

Zalmi fully capitalised on the 135-run second-wicket stand, scoring 90 runs off 35 balls following Mendis’ departure to finish at 255 for three. Farhan Yousaf scored 19 off eight balls, while Aaron Hardie scored 26 not out off 10 balls.

Three Gladiators bowlers conceded 50 or more runs — Alzarri Joseph (59), Jahandad Khan (53) and Usman Tariq (50) — while Abrar Ahmed was hit for 44.

In reply, Mohammad Basit dismissed Gladiators captain Saud Shakeel and Rilee Rossouw on successive balls in the third over, and Ali Raza removed Hasan Nawaz as the 2019 champions slipped to 42 for three.

Ali Raza finished with three for nine, Mohammad Basit three for 26 and Aaron Hardie two for 11 as Gladiators were dismissed for 137 in 18.1 overs. Replacement player Bevon Jacobs was the top-scorer with 34, while Shamyl Hussain scored 21.

In the afternoon match, Shan Masood scored 46, Josh Philippe 44, Awais Zafar 36 and Mohammad Imran 26 not out as Multan Sultans scored 33 in the last two overs to finish at an impressive 207 for seven.

The innings was built around three crucial partnerships — Philippe and Awais added 66 for the second wicket off 37 balls, Shan put on 44 off 29 balls with Awais for the third wicket, and Imran and Mohammad Wasim featured in an unbroken 33-run eighth-wicket stand off 10 balls.

For Karachi Kings, Khushdil Shah was the pick of the bowlers with three for 35, while Moeen Ali took two for 30.

In their run-chase, Kings plummeted to 47 for three before a 67-run fourth-wicket stand between Reeza Hendricks (49) and Moeen Ali (27) repaired the damage. With 23 needed off the last 12 balls, Kings had an outside chance, but Siddle removed a dangerous-looking Abbas Afridi (34) before Adam Zampa and Hasan Ali were run out off successive balls as Kings fell short by 11 runs, dismissed for 196.

Scores in brief:

Match 28 – Multan Sultans beat Karachi Kings by 11 runs

MULTAN SULTANS 207-7, 20 overs (Shan Masood 46, Josh Philippe 44, Awais Zafar 36, Mohammad Imran 26 not out, Arafat Minhas 17, Khushdil Shah 3-35, Moeen Ali 2-30)

KARACHI KINGS 196 all-out, 19.4 overs (Reeza Hendricks 49, Abbas Afridi 34, Moeen Ali 27, Hasan Ali 23, Saad Baig 21, Jason Roy 16; Arafat Minhas 3-32, Peter Siddle 2-28)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Arafat Minhas (Multan Sultans)

Match 29 – Peshawar Zalmi beat Quetta Gladiators by 118 runs

PESHAWAR ZALMI 255-3, 20 overs (Babar Azam 100 not out, Kusal Mendis 83, Aaron Hardie 26 not out, Farhan Yousaf 19, Mohammad Haris 16)

QUETTA GLADIATORS 137 all-out, 18.1 overs (Bevon Jacobs 34, Shamyl Hussain 21, Dinesh Chandimal 19, Alzarri Joseph 19 not out, Saud Shakeel 12, Ali Raza 3-9, Mohammad Basit 3-26, Aaron Hardie 2-11)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi)

TUESDAY’S FIXTURES: Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators, Lahore; Multan Sultans v Rawalpindiz, Karachi

WEDNESDAY’S FIXTURES: Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore; Hyderabad Kingsmen v Multan Sultans, Karachi

THURSDAY’S FIXTURES: Islamabad United v Rawalpindiz, Karachi; Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Lahore

FRIDAY’S FIXTURE: Hyderabad Kingsmen v Islamabad United, Lahore