KARACHI: Babar Azam brought a packed National Bank Stadium to its feet with a sublime 13th T20 century that proved to be the cornerstone of Peshawar Zalmi’s 70-run victory over Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League Qualifier on Tuesday.

Babar scored 103 — his fourth PSL century and second of the season — as Zalmi posted 221 for seven, including 64 runs in the last five overs after the 2017 champions had collected 89 between the seventh and 15th overs. In reply, United put up a strong first half to their run-chase, racing to 94 for two before losing their way early in the second half and being dismissed for 151 in 18.4 overs — their last nine wickets falling for just 70 runs off 63 balls.

This was only the second match between the two sides this season, their previous encounter in Lahore having been abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Babar’s masterclass earned Zalmi their first PSL final since 2021 and fifth overall in 11 seasons. Islamabad United, however, remain in contention for a fourth title, with a second opportunity to reach the May 3 final in Lahore — they will meet the winner of Wednesday’s Eliminator between Multan Sultans and Hyderabad Kingsmen on Friday.

Babar faced 59 balls and struck 12 fours and four sixes. He reached his fifty off 38 balls with six fours and a six, while his second fifty came off just 19 balls with six fours and three sixes. From 74 to 103, he took just 12 balls and hit five fours and a six.

In scoring 103, Babar drew level with Fakhar Zaman as the highest run-scorer in a single PSL season. Babar now has 588 runs at an average of 84 and a strike rate of 146.27 — with one match still to play. Fakhar had scored 588 runs four years ago from 13 matches at an average of 45.23 and a strike rate of 152.72.

Babar gave Zalmi a flying start, putting on 72 off 38 balls for the first wicket with Mohammad Haris, who scored 35 off 16 balls with five fours and two sixes. After Haris’s departure, Babar stitched an 84-run second-wicket partnership off 51 balls with Kusal Mendis, who continued his purple patch with 41 off 26 balls with five fours and a six.

After Michael Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad and Farhan Yousaf fell attempting to maximise the scoring in the death overs, Aaron Hardie provided a late flourish with 20 off 10 balls with two fours and a six.

For United, captain Shadab Khan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-0-42-3, while Richard Gleeson grabbed two for 45.

In pursuit of 222, United started confidently, reaching 81 for one in eight overs before collapsing to 113 for seven in 13.5 overs and eventually being dismissed for 151 in 18.4 overs.

Aaron Hardie followed up his cameo with figures of 4-0-24-3, while Sufiyan Muqeem strengthened his status as one of the competition’s finest emerging cricketers with 4-0-25-2. Sufiyan now has 21 wickets, comfortably ahead of second-placed Shadab Khan on 17. Shaheen Shah Afridi finished the league stage with 16 wickets and Hasan Ali with 15.

Mohammad Basit bagged two for 19, while Bracewell and Khurram Shahzad took one wicket each.

For Islamabad United, young Sameer Minhas was the top-scorer with a 23-ball 44 including seven fours and a six. He put on 58 off 30 balls for the first wicket with Devon Conway (20) and added 23 off 19 balls for the second wicket with Mohsin Riaz (25).

Scores in brief:

Match 41 (Qualifier) – Peshawar Zalmi beat Islamabad United by 70 runs, Karachi

Peshawar Zalmi 221-7, 20 overs (Babar Azam 103, Kusal Mendis 41, Mohammad Haris 35, Aaron Hardie 20; Shadab Khan 3-42, Richard Gleeson 2-45)

Islamabad United 151 all out, 18.4 overs (Sameer Minhas 44, Mohsin Riaz 25, Imad Wasim 22, Devon Conway 20; Aaron Hardie 3-24, Mohammad Basit 2-19, Sufiyan Muqeem 2-25)

Player of the Match – Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi)

Wednesday’s fixture (Eliminator One): Multan Sultans v Hyderabad Kingsmen, Lahore