Babar Azam finally ended his long wait for a T20 century with a brilliant unbeaten hundred that guided Peshawar Zalmi to 255-3 against Quetta Gladiators in PSL 11.
The Zalmi captain reached his century on the final ball of the innings with a quick double, completing the milestone in just 52 balls. It was his 12th T20 century, third in PSL history, and his fastest hundred in the league.
The knock was especially significant as it marked Babar’s first T20 century in 67 innings over a span of 783 days.
His innings combined class and aggression, featuring six fours and four sixes. Remarkably, he played only one dot ball throughout the innings, leaving Quetta’s bowlers with little answer.
Kusal Mendis also played a key role with an explosive 83 runs. Together, Babar and Mendis built a 135-run partnership for the second wicket, putting Peshawar Zalmi in complete command.
That partnership also helped Babar equal Virat Kohli’s record for the most 100-plus stands in T20 cricket. Both players now have 47 century partnerships in the format. Babar also strengthened his own record for the most century partnerships in PSL history.
Most 100 partnerships in T20 cricket
| 100s | Player | Team |
| 47 | Virat Kohli | India |
| 47 | Babar Azam | Pakistan |
| 46 | Chris Gayle | West Indies |
| 45 | David Warner | Australia |
| 40 | Faf du Plessis | South Africa |
Peshawar Zalmi’s total of 255-3 is now one of the highest scores in PSL history. It stands as:
- Third-highest total in PSL history
- Highest total ever by Peshawar Zalmi
- Highest PSL total at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium
Only two totals are higher in the tournament record books: Quetta Gladiators’ 263-3 against Islamabad United in 2025 and Multan Sultans’ 262-3 against Quetta in 2023.
Babar’s century also brought him level with Kamran Akmal, Rilee Rossouw, and Usman Khan for the most hundreds in PSL history. He now has 12 T20 centuries overall, moving closer to Chris Gayle on the all-time list.
Quetta Gladiators had chosen to field first after winning the toss, but the decision backfired as Zalmi dominated from the start. Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, and Alzarri Joseph took one wicket each, but none could stop the run flow.
