Asif Ali, the Pakistan middle-order batter, showcased remarkable fielding prowess in the ongoing season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). During the clash between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans, Ali pulled off a stunning catch at the boundary ropes, adding to the excitement of the match.

In the intense encounter held in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, March 5th, Peshawar Zalmi secured a narrow four-run victory over Multan Sultans. Led by Babar Azam, the team successfully defended a formidable total of 204 runs. Babar’s exceptional batting performance earned him the title of ‘Player of the Match,’ contributing significantly to his team’s triumph.

The Spectacular Boundary Catch by Asif Ali

In the 12th over of Multan Sultan’s run-chase, Aamer Jamal delivered a short-length ball, prompting Dawid Malan to attempt a pull shot that didn’t quite clear the field. As the ball headed towards square leg, Asif Ali positioned himself strategically.

With remarkable agility, Asif Ali soared at the boundary ropes to execute a breathtaking catch, ending Malan’s innings at 19 runs off 19 balls. Demonstrating exceptional skill, Ali completed the catch before landing gracefully within the playing area, earning accolades from both fans and teammates, notably Babar Azam.

Babar Azam’s Team Advances to Third Position in Points Standings

Peshawar Zalmi demonstrated dominance with the bat as they chose to bat first against the Multan Sultans. Babar Azam spearheaded the innings with a remarkable 64 runs from 40 deliveries, ably assisted by Saim Ayub’s explosive 46 off just 22 balls, highlighted by five sixes and three boundaries.

Babar Azam and Saim Ayub formed a formidable partnership, adding 84 runs in just 36 balls, laying a solid foundation for Peshawar Zalmi. Haseebullah Khan contributed 31 runs off 20 balls, and Rovman Powell remained unbeaten with 23 runs off 15 deliveries, boosting the team’s total to 204/5 in 20 overs.

Multan Sultans faced a challenging start, losing Mohammad Rizwan early on after his brisk 32 off 24 deliveries. Despite Iftikhar Ahmed’s explosive 60 off 27 balls and Chris Jordan’s quickfire 30 off 12, Multan fell short of the target.

Usama Mir was the standout performer among Multan Sultans’ bowlers, claiming three wickets for 32 runs. England pacer Chris Jordan also made a notable contribution with two wickets for 33 runs.

Aamer Jamal emerged as the standout bowler for Peshawar Zalmi, taking two crucial wickets for 36 runs in his four overs. Naveen ul Haq and Mehran Mumtaz claimed one wicket each in the defense of the target.

Despite the loss, Multan Sultans maintain their lead in the points table with six victories in eight matches, boasting a net run rate of +0.967. Peshawar Zalmi’s recent win secures their fourth victory of the season, placing them third in the standings with a net run rate of -0.625.

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Playing XI for the Peshawar Zalmi vs Multan Sultans match:

Peshawar Zalmi XI: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Haseebullah Khan (w), Rovman Powell, Asif Ali, Aamer Jamal, Luke Wood, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mehran Mumtaz, Salman Irshad

Multan Sultans XI: Mohammad Rizwan (w/c), Reeza Hendricks, Dawid Malan, Tayyab Tahir, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Usama Mir, Aftab Ibrahim, Mohammad Ali