Bracewell, Samad cameos deliver winning start for Zalmi

Michael Bracewell and Abdul Samad powered Peshawar Zalmi to a sensational 5-wicket win against debutants Rawalpindiz in Match 3 of PSL 2026 in Lahore.

Rawalpindiz opted to bat first, with openers Yasir Khan and Mohammad Rizwan providing a flying start. The pair raced to a 50-run stand off just 25 deliveries, ending the Powerplay on 63/0. Yasir notched up a fifty and continued to deal in boundaries before a 125-run opening stand ended with Rizwan's dismissal for 41.

Yasir top-scored with a stellar 46-ball 83. Kamran Ghulam (37 off 20) and Daryl Mitchell (23 off 13) chipped in with valuable cameos, and Sam Billings added the finishing touches to take Rawalpindiz to 214/4.

In response, Zalmi were off to a quick start as skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris put on 78 runs. Haris made 47 and Babar scored 39, but the asking rate climbed above 14. With 85 needed off the last 35 balls, Abdul Samad and Michael Bracewell flicked a switch, hammering sixes at will.

Samad smashed 33 off just 11 balls before falling to Mohammad Amir, who conceded 19 runs in his over. With 16 needed off 9 balls, Aamer Jamal smashed Naseem Shah for a six off a no-ball. Another boundary followed, tying the scores with an over to go, before Jamal sealed the win with a boundary.

Brief Scores: Rawalpindi Pindiz 214/4 in 20 overs (Yasir Khan 83, Mohammad Rizwan 41) lost to Peshawar Zalmi 218/5 in 19.1 overs (Mohammad Haris 47, Michael Bracewell 35*, Abdul Samad 33) by 5 wickets.