Zalmi were in deep trouble early, crumbling to 40-3 during the powerplay. But skipper Babar (53* off 49) and debutant Maaz (55 off 33) steadied the ship with a composed yet aggressive 100-run stand that shifted the momentum and revived Zalmi’s faltering campaign.

Currently sitting fifth on the table, just two points behind Karachi Kings, Zalmi still have a mathematical shot at the playoffs with three crucial games remaining. Islamabad United, comfortably atop the standings, now face questions after suffering back-to-back defeats following a five-match winning streak.

Earlier in the evening, United struggled with the bat on a sluggish pitch and were restricted to 143-9, largely saved by Ben Dwarshuis’ explosive cameo of 33 off 17 balls. His late surge, featuring three boundaries and two sixes, offered a glimmer of hope — but it wasn’t enough.

The match was packed with standout moments: a sensational catch by Naseem Shah, Maaz’s fearless hitting under pressure, and Babar’s trademark finishing touch. Even a rare fielding error from Babar couldn’t derail Zalmi’s comeback.

With momentum shifting and confidence growing, Zalmi may still be on the outside looking in — but after this performance, they’ve shown they’re not done yet.