KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi survived a late scare to beat Hyderabad Kingsmen by four wickets in a tense HBL Pakistan Super League encounter at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday night, overcoming a spirited defence of a modest total in an unusually subdued atmosphere.

The venue painted a picture of emptiness. With stands largely vacant due to the government’s ongoing austerity drive and the stadium’s iconic roof removed as part of a planned renovation, the action unfolded in stark openness.

The silence in the stands, however, was replaced by relentless energy from Kingsmen players, who attempted to compensate for the lack of crowd support with constant chatter and encouragement on the field.

Defending a below-par 145 — and still searching for their first win of the tournament — the Kingsmen relied on intensity and discipline to drag the contest deep despite Peshawar appearing comfortably in control for much of the chase.

Zalmi were cruising at one stage, requiring 30 runs off 30 deliveries with six wickets in hand, before Hyderabad’s bowlers triggered a dramatic slowdown.

Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana and pacer Mohammad Ali conceded only nine runs across two tight overs, applying pressure that shifted momentum.

Hunain Shah then produced a crucial spell, extending a streak of dot balls while dismissing Abdul Samad to leave Zalmi suddenly uncertain.

When Ali followed with a miserly five-run over, Zalmi needed 15 off the final six deliveries, turning what once looked routine into a nerve-racking finish.

Iftikhar Ahmed, however, held his nerve. The experienced all-rounder broke the tension by driving Hunain through the line for four before launching a towering six to reduce the equation to two runs off two balls.

Calm singles by Iftikhar (15 off 10) and Aamer Jamal sealed victory with four wickets in hand.

Earlier, Zalmi’s chase had begun briskly. Mohammad Haris flicked Ali for a six off the very first ball before departing early, but captain Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis ensured momentum remained intact.

Babar mixed sweeps and drives effectively against Maaz Sadaqat’s left-arm spin, while Mendis counterattacked with two sixes off Maaz and Hassan Khan as Zalmi raced to 56-1 in the powerplay.

The partnership provided a solid platform before Mendis’ aggressive cameo ended when he holed out to Ali at deep square-leg off Saim Ayub’s spin in the ninth over.

At 78-2 halfway through the chase, Zalmi looked firmly in control, needing 68 runs from the final 10 overs.

Kingsmen, though, responded with renewed discipline. Hunain began the squeeze with a one-run over, during which Michael Bracewell survived a caught-behind appeal.

Bracewell and Babar briefly restored control with timely boundaries, the New Zealander even scooping Hunain for six to ease pressure.

But Hyderabad struck back through Saim, who removed Bracewell for 25 off 19 balls before dismissing Babar for a composed 43 off 37 deliveries.

Pakistan Under-19 captain Farhan Yousuf attempted to maintain momentum with attacking strokes against Hassan and Theekshana, but Ali trapped him lbw in a crucial 17th over that yielded just two runs, setting up the tense finale eventually decided by Iftikhar’s late assault.

In the first innings, Zalmi’s bowlers had laid the foundation for victory by restricting Hyderabad to a modest total.

Iftikhar starred with the ball, dismantling the Kingsmen’s top order with remarkable efficiency to finish with figures of 4-21, all claimed within the powerplay.

His strikes left Hyderabad struggling before captain Marnus Labuschagne and Kusal Perera mounted a counterattack that briefly revived their innings.

With four wickets already down when Perera arrived at the crease, the Sri Lankan left-hander chose aggression as the only option.

He pulled Nahid Rana for six off just his third delivery and followed it with a crisp cover drive, lifting Hyderabad to 51-4 by the end of the powerplay.

Labuschagne, meanwhile, showcased adaptability while exploring his T20 credentials, negotiating Iftikhar carefully before striking three boundaries in an over off Sufiyan Muqeem’s wrist spin.

The pair added 82 runs off 55 balls, steadying Kingsmen to 86-4 at the halfway stage. Perera continued attacking, sweeping Sufiyan for six as the Kingsmen threatened to post a competitive total.

The breakthrough finally came in the 15th over when Labuschagne miscued Sufiyan and offered a simple catch to Shoriful Islam at short fine-leg.

Perera soon completed a fighting half-century off 31 balls with a powerful boundary through square, but Kingsmen’s resurgence proved short-lived.

Sufiyan returned to dismantle the lower order, dismissing Irfan Khan with a googly before removing Perera and Theekshana in quick succession.

A sharp catch by Iftikhar ended Hassan’s stay as Hyderabad were bowled out for a total that ultimately fell short.

Despite a spirited bowling effort that nearly turned the match on its head, Kingsmen’s winless run continued, while Zalmi walked away relieved after a contest that proved far closer than the target suggested.

Scoreboard

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN:

Maaz Sadaqat c Aamer b Iftikhar17

Saim Ayub c Haris b Iftikhar14

Sharjeel Khan b Iftikhar2

Usman Khan c Sufiyan b Iftikhar0

Marnus Labuschagne c Shoriful b Sufiyan27

Kusal Perera c Iftikhar b Sufiyan58

Irfan Khan c Babar b Sufiyan9

Hassan Khan c Iftikhar b Aamer9

Maheesh Theekshana c&b Sufiyan0

Hunain Shah run out0

Mohammad Ali not out0

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-4, W-1)9

TOTAL (all out, 18.2 overs)145

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-26 (Maaz), 2-33 (Saim), 3-33 (Usman), 4-34 (Sharjeel), 5-116 (Labuschagne), 6-136 (Irfan), 7-137 (Perera), 8-137 (Theekshana), 9-144 (Hunain)

BOWLING: Bracewell 4-0-26-0 (1w), Shoriful 2-0-21-0, Iftikhar 4-0-21-4, Nahid 3-0-30-0, Sufiyan 4-0-32-4, Aamer 1.2-0-7-1

PESHAWAR ZALMI:

Mohammad Haris c Labuschagne b Theekshana11

Babar Azam lbw b Hassan Khan43

Kusal Mendis c Ali b Saim27

Michael Bracewell c Irfan b Saim25

Farhan Yousaf lbw b Ali15

Abdul Samad c Usman b Hunain1

Iftikhar Ahmed not out15

Aamer Jamal not out6

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-1)3

TOTAL (for six wickets, 20 overs)146

DID NOT BAT: Sufiyan Muqeem, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-17 (Haris), 2-66 (Mendis), 3-104 (Bracewell), 4-116 (Babar), 5-125 (Farhan), 6-125 (Samad)

BOWLING: Ali 3-0-16-1, Theekshana 4-0-36-1, Hassan 3-0-25-1, Maaz 2-0-16-0, Saim 4-0-19-2, Hunain 4-0-32-1 (1w)

RESULT: Peshawar Zalmi won by four wickets.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2026

MONTE CARLO: Daniil Medvedev slipped to an embarrassing 6-0, 6-0 thrashing by Matteo Berrettini in the Monte Carlo Masters second round on Wednesday, as Alexander Zverev dug deep to beat Cristian Garin.

Medevdev completely unravelled against Berrettini after missing two break points in the opening game, making 30 unforced errors and serving five double faults.

Medvedev did not win more than two points in any of the last 11 games and his frustrations boiled over in the second set, smashing his racquet into the court four times.

Berrettini wrapped up the double-bagel victory, the first such defeat of former world number one Medvedev’s career, in just 49 minutes.

“I think it was one of the best performances of my life,” Berrettini said.

“I think I missed three shots in the entire match and it is not easy against a tricky player like Daniil. I think the game plan was perfect and my weapons were working.”

The former Wimbledon runner-up, now ranked 90th, will face Joao Fonseca in the last 16 after the Brazilian teenager beat Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

World number three Zverev, who is hoping to complete the set of all three clay-court Masters 1000 titles this week, staged a late comeback to edge out Chilean qualifier Garin 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Zverev has reached the semi-finals at each of the Australian Open, Indian Wells and the Miami Open this year but was in danger of a shock exit after losing the first set and then trailing 4-0 in the third.

Garin also served for the match when 5-3 ahead in the deciding set, but Zverev broke and then sealed victory by reeling off five consecutive games.

He had to stave off three break points in a nervy 12th game to avoid a tie-break, but eventually got the job done on his third match point.

“My level was not there at all to be honest,” Zverev said after taking two hours and 50 minutes to get over the line.

“But it was my first clay-court match in 11 months. I didn’t have much time to prepare as I played well in Miami.

“I am happy to get the win. It was a tough match and he is someone playing well, especially here.”

The 28-year-old will face unseeded Belgian Zizou Bergs, who downed 2023 champion Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-1, in round three.

Zverev has not won an ATP title since Munich 12 months ago, while the last of his seven Masters triumphs came in Paris in 2024.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2026

MADRID: Bayern Munich took control of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, while Arsenal bounced back from their domestic distress to steal a 1-0 victory at Sporting Lisbon.

Luis Diaz and Harry Kane struck a each in either half to earn the visitors a slender first-leg advantage after a high-tempo contest in the Spanish capital.

Vincent Kompany’s side struck just before halftime when Serge Gnabry slipped a precise pass through for Diaz, who beat the offside trap and fired low past keeper Andriy Lunin in the 41st minute.

Bayern doubled their lead seconds after the restart as Micheal Olise squared for Kane to finish neatly from the edge of the box following a swift counter-attack.

Real improved after the hour and Kylian Mbappe pulled one back in the 74th minute, turning in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low cross at the far post.

Manuel Neuer then denied Mbappe and Vinicius Jr with a series of sharp saves as the hosts pressed for an equaliser that never came, as Bayern headed home with a narrow yet significant advantage.

“We came out for the second half and conceded a goal straight away. Both goals we conceded were gifts. Both sides had plenty of chances but Bayern’s best player today was Neuer. In the end, that’s how it goes,” Real Madrid defender Antonio Ruediger told Movistar Plus.

Vinicius forced a superb one-handed save from Neuer in the 17th minute, the Bayern goalkeeper tipping away a low drive from the edge of the box at full stretch.

Mbappe squandered two openings soon after and was denied again in the 29th minute by an outstanding reflex save from Neuer.

The goalkeeper then produced another fine one-handed save to deny Mbappe in the 65th minute and moments later watched the France forward pull an angled effort wide after clever play from Vinicius.

Bayern coach hailed the performance of the veteran goalkeeper who was named the man-of-the-match.

“If he was the best player, then I’m also happy with that, it’s not a problem,” Kompany told reporters. “I think you need special performances always at this level in these type of games.

“I think today we had also some chances to score more goals, so let’s hope we continue this form next week, and let’s hope that our strikers are the best players next week.”

Kompany praised two-time Champions League and 12-time Bundesliga winner Neuer’s longevity.

“Manu is one of the very few — he’s not just able to do it for a very long time, but for a very, very long time,” said the Belgian coach. “To still perform like he does now, I think that is something that not many goalkeepers, even the top ones, are able to do.”

Bayern had chances of the own as Dayot Upamecano missed an opportunity early in the game from a point-blank range when Alvaro Carrerras produced a goal-line clearance.

Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa backed his team to mount a comeback in Munich.

“I think it’s a defeat that maybe, with a bit more luck in the second half, we could have avoided,” said the Spaniard. “We scored a goal that gave us hope — the pity is we weren’t able to put away any more of the chances we had.

“It’s not going to be easy, but if any team can win in Munich, it’s Real Madrid.”

Raya hailed

In the other first leg encounter the goalkeeper was again proved to be the difference between the two teams.

David Raya was hailed as the world’s best goalkeeper by Kai Havertz after the pair inspired Arsenal’s win at Lisbon.

Raya made a trio of vital saves to keep spluttering Arsenal in the game at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

The Spaniard tipped Maxi Araujo’s drive onto the crossbar and kept out Geny Catamo’s low effort before making another fine stop to parry Catamo’s header late in the second half.

Below their best for long spells, Arsenal capitalised on Raya’s man-of-the-match display to end their two-game losing run.

Havertz calmly converted a pass from fellow substitute Gabriel Martinelli in stoppage-time, making Arsenal firm favourites to advance to the semi-finals when they host Sporting in the second leg on April 15.

Raya’s return to the team was vital after he was rested for Arsenal’s League Cup final loss to Manchester City and their embarrassing FA Cup quarter-final defeat against second-tier Southampton.

“Unbelievable. I think still underestimated in the world of football but for me, the last two seasons, the best keeper in the world,” Havertz said.

“He’s outstanding, he’s saved us so many times and we’re very glad to have him.”

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta echoed Havertz’s verdict after Raya’s seventh Champions League clean-sheet this season.

“At the moment he’s phenomenal and extraordinary since he joined us. We are very lucky to have him,” he said.

“He had two moments where he made two big saves. And that’s the Champions League, the Champions League is always decided in the boxes and because there’s so much quality here.”

Raya felt his first save from Araujo was the decisive moment in the game as it kept Arsenal afloat in a difficult period.

“I think that’s a turning moment. It was a quick transition from them, great strike but I managed to get a fingertip to it to hit the bar. It’s one of those moments that can change games,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2026