PSL 2025: 17-year-old pacer Ali Raza stars in Peshawar Zalmi maiden win of the season over Multan Sultans

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PSL 2025: A scintillating spell from rookie pacer Ali Raza and a clinical finish by Abdul Samad powered Peshawar Zalmi to a thunderous 120-run win over Multan Sultans, who collapsed for 107 in just 15.5 overs chasing a towering 228 in Rawalpindi on April 19.

Zalmi's bowlers were relentless from the halfway mark of Multan's innings, led by Raza, whose 4-wicket blitz dismantled the chase. His breakthrough came in his first over when he dismissed Kamran Ghulam with a short ball that hurried the batter into a mistimed pull. Alzarri Joseph took a sharp catch at long-on, setting the tone.

Raza's second over was the game-changer. He removed Michael Bracewell and Ashton Turner in consecutive deliveries - Bracewell falling to a mistimed pull taken smartly by Raza himself, and Turner losing his stumps to a sharp in-dipper first ball. From 84/3, Multan plummeted to 84/5 in the blink of an eye.

Even as Usman Khan tried to revive the innings with a 22-ball 44 - laced with lusty blows including a six and four off Arif Yaqoob - the Sultans kept losing partners. Hope, looking set at 20, holed out to long-on off Yaqoob, who was impeccable with his variations and control. His final figures of 3/20 ensured no lower-order resistance would emerge.

Ali Raza returned to remove Iftikhar Ahmed for 2, piling further misery on Multan, and finished with exceptional figures of 4/21 in his four overs - a dream debut that flipped the game decisively in Zalmi's favour.

Ubaid Shah and David Willey tried to survive the carnage, but pressure kept mounting. Joseph's pace was too hot to handle for Ubaid, and Ali Raza bowled with such fire that even singles were hard to come by. At 105/8, the end felt inevitable.

Mitchell Owen then stepped up to apply the final touches. He first lured Willey into a mistimed lofted shot with a slower one - caught at long-off - and then trapped Akif Javed with a brilliant delivery that forced a top-edge. Abdul Samad's diving catch at deep square leg sealed the result, triggering wild celebrations as Multan folded for 107.

Earlier in the evening, Zalmi's batters had piled up a mammoth 227, which now feels even more daunting in hindsight. Their total was always going to be challenging, but the bowling unit's collective brilliance - especially Raza and Owen - ensured Multan never found a rhythm.

The result is a major boost for Zalmi as they approach the playoffs, with their net run-rate getting a healthy push and key bowlers hitting peak form. For Multan, it's back to the drawing board - their batting frailties cruelly exposed under pressure.

This match will be remembered for Ali Raza's sensational debut and the dominance of Zalmi's bowling unit, delivering one of the most comprehensive wins of the season.