Karachi, April 9, 2026: Peshawar Zalmi recorded a record-breaking total of 246/3 against Karachi Kings in the 17th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
Batting first, the 2017 champions piled up the highest total ever at the Karachi venue, surpassing the previous best of 238/3 set by Islamabad United against Lahore Qalandars in 2019. The total also marked Peshawar Zalmi’s personal highest in PSL history, eclipsing their previous best of 242/6 against Multan Sultans in 2023, and ranks as the sixth-highest total in PSL history overall.
The innings was propelled by a monumental 191-run second-wicket partnership between Kusal Mendis and captain Babar Azam, following the early dismissal of opener Mohammad Haris for a duck on the second delivery. This partnership now stands as the highest for any wicket in PSL history, surpassing the previous 176-run stand between Babar Azam and Sharjeel Khan for Karachi Kings in 2021.
Top PSL partnerships (all-time)
- Kusal Mendis & Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) – 191 runs vs Karachi Kings, 2026
- Sharjeel Khan & Babar Azam (Karachi Kings) – 176 runs vs Islamabad United, 2021
- Saim Ayub & Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) – 162 runs vs Quetta Gladiators, 2023
- David Warner & JM Vince (Karachi Kings) – 162 runs vs Peshawar Zalmi, 2025
- Liam Livingstone & Babar Azam (Karachi Kings) – 157 runs vs Multan Sultans, 2019
Highest PSL totals (all-time)
- Quetta Gladiators – 263/3 vs Islamabad United, 2025
- Multan Sultans – 262/3 vs Quetta Gladiators, 2023
- Quetta Gladiators – 253/8 vs Multan Sultans, 2023
- Islamabad United – 251/5 vs Karachi Kings, 2025
- Islamabad United – 247/2 vs Peshawar Zalmi, 2021
- Peshawar Zalmi – 246/3 vs Karachi Kings, 2026
The explosive innings from Mendis and Babar demonstrated remarkable timing, power-hitting, and consistency, effectively taking Zalmi past a daunting total after an early setback. Their combined effort not only set venue and franchise records but also provided a template for chasing or defending big totals in PSL 11.
The match further cemented Peshawar Zalmi’s reputation as a dominant force in the tournament and showcased the batting prowess of one of Pakistan’s most formidable cricket duos.
