Sahibzada Farhan Century Powers Islamabad United to Record Win Over Peshawar Zalmi | PSL 2025

Sahibzada Farhan’s Thunderous Century Powers Islamabad United to a Crushing Win Over Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2025

There are some knocks in T20 cricket that live long in memory, and Sahibzada Farhan's sensational century in the HBL PSL X 2025 certainly joined that exclusive club. The right-handed opener set the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on fire with his audacious strokeplay, propelling Islamabad United to a resounding 102-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi in Match 5 of the Pakistan Super League 2025.

This commanding win not only reaffirmed Islamabad United’s credentials as early title contenders but also left Peshawar Zalmi scrambling for answers after their second consecutive defeat.

Farhan’s Fiery Century Steals the Show

In a tournament where chasing has often been the safer route, Islamabad United chose to bat first and what a decision that turned out to be. Sahibzada Farhan, who has been in outrageous form in T20 cricket throughout 2025, delivered a masterclass in aggressive yet calculated batting.

Farhan’s blistering 106 off just 52 balls, decorated with 13 boundaries and five towering sixes, completely dismantled the Zalmi bowling unit. What stood out in his innings was his fearless approach against both pace and spin. Whether it was the fiery Alzarri Joseph or the crafty spinners, Farhan played them all with utter command.

This century was Farhan’s fourth T20 ton in 2025, placing him among an elite list of global batters. It also matched the record for the fastest century by an Islamabad United player in PSL history, coming off just 49 deliveries.

Munro Joins the Party as United Pile on Runs

While Farhan was undoubtedly the headline act, Colin Munro provided the perfect support from the other end. The New Zealander’s 40 off 27 balls ensured that the run-rate never dipped. His six fours and one maximum highlighted the clean striking on display.

Their 144-run stand for the second wicket left Zalmi searching for answers, as boundaries rained down in Rawalpindi. Even after their dismissals in quick succession, Islamabad’s lower order ensured there was no relief for Zalmi.

Salman Ali Agha’s quickfire 30 and Jason Holder’s explosive unbeaten 20 ensured Islamabad United reached a mammoth 243/5 their second-highest total ever in the PSL.

Peshawar Zalmi’s Chase Falls Apart Early

Chasing 244 was always going to be a monumental task, but Zalmi’s hopes evaporated within the first few overs. Naseem Shah struck early to remove Saim Ayub, while Ben Dwarshuis got the big fish Babar Azam cheaply. Losing three wickets inside four overs set a tone Zalmi never recovered from.

Despite Mohammad Haris’ valiant effort, where he single-handedly tried to keep Zalmi in the chase with an electric 87 off 47 balls, the lack of support from the other end proved fatal.

Haris struck 12 boundaries and four sixes in his memorable knock, but once Imad Wasim removed him, Zalmi’s innings unraveled quickly.

Islamabad’s Bowling Completes a Perfect Night

Defending a big total requires discipline with the ball, and Islamabad United’s bowlers did just that. Imad Wasim led the attack with figures of 3 for 26, using his variations effectively on a batting-friendly surface.

Captain Shadab Khan chipped in with 2 for 29, while Dwarshuis’ early breakthroughs were critical. The collective bowling performance saw Zalmi bundled out for 141 in 18.2 overs a whopping 102 runs short of the target.

This victory marked Islamabad United’s biggest-ever win in PSL history, in terms of runs, stamping their authority early in the 2025 campaign.

What This Win Means for Islamabad United

Islamabad United's start to the PSL 2025 season has been nothing short of perfect. With two consecutive wins and sitting comfortably at the top of the points table, they have sent a clear warning to other teams.

The most pleasing aspect for the United camp would be the all-round show top-order fireworks, middle-order depth, and clinical bowling. Moreover, Sahibzada Farhan’s dream form will undoubtedly be the envy of every franchise.

Zalmi Left Searching for Answers

For Peshawar Zalmi, the problems seem to be piling up. With two losses in two games, their bowling has leaked runs alarmingly, and their batting looks over-reliant on a few names, particularly Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris.

Captain Babar Azam’s poor returns will be a growing concern, while the failure of the middle-order needs immediate fixing. Their bowling unit, led by Alzarri Joseph, struggled for control, conceding far too many in both matches.

Unless Zalmi address their death bowling and top-order woes, their campaign could go off track quickly.