Match overview
Peshawar Zalmi beat Multan Sultans by 24 runs in PSL 2026 on 13 April 2026 at National Stadium, Karachi. Zalmi batted first and posted 196/6, driven by a strong powerplay of 59/1 and a productive middle phase of 89 runs for 2 wickets. Multan Sultans began their chase encouragingly, reaching the equivalent stages in decent shape, but collapsed to 172/8 as they lost 4 wickets for just 26 runs in the final phase. Sufiyan Muqeem took the Player of the Match award. The result extends Peshawar Zalmi's winning run in PSL 2026 to five consecutive matches.
The margin of 24 runs does not quite capture how the match turned. Sultans were competitive for roughly 16 overs of their chase, scoring 61 in the powerplay and 85 in the middle phase, leaving themselves needing 26 off the last four overs with wickets in hand. They failed to get there, and the damage in those final overs was decisive. Four wickets fell in quick succession, and the chase effectively died somewhere around the 17th over.
Venue and conditions
National Stadium, Karachi has hosted 71 T20 matches in the dataset, and the numbers tell an interesting story. The average first-innings score sits at 209, meaningfully higher than Zalmi's 196, suggesting conditions on the night were slightly below the norm for batting. The average second-innings score of 184 also indicates chasing teams typically fall short of first-innings totals here, and the chase success rate is precisely 50% across those 71 games.
In terms of phases, the venue's average powerplay of 45 runs was comfortably exceeded by both sides: Zalmi scored 59/1 in the first six overs, Sultans 61/1 in theirs. The death overs average of 42 runs proved closer to what Zalmi achieved (48) but well above what Sultans managed (26). Toss behaviour at the ground backs the decision Sultans made: 63% of toss winners at Karachi choose to field. The pitch historically rewards teams who know what total they are chasing, though on this occasion the side asking the question first came off worse.
How to watch
PSL 2026 is broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Live coverage is accessible via the standard Sky Sports subscription, with streaming options available through Sky Go for existing subscribers and NOW TV for viewers who prefer a day or monthly sports pass without a long-term contract. Match schedules are subject to change; check Sky Sports' listings for confirmed UK broadcast times, noting that fixtures in Pakistan typically kick off in late afternoon or early evening UK time depending on the time of year.
Recent form
Peshawar Zalmi arrive at this fixture in the form of their PSL 2026 season. Their four wins ahead of this match came against Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Hyderabad Kingsmen, and Rawalpindi, making this result a fifth straight victory. Their only defeat in recent history was a loss to Lahore Qalandars in 2025. That consistency across multiple opponents suggests a settled squad rather than a team riding one good performance.
Multan Sultans' recent record is solid if not quite as clean. Four wins from their last five PSL 2026 outings, against Rawalpindi, Quetta Gladiators, Hyderabad Kingsmen, and Islamabad United, point to a side in decent touch. Their loss came against Lahore Qalandars. Despite the defeat here, Sultans remain a team capable of posting competitive totals and will likely regroup quickly. The two sides are scheduled to meet again in the PSL 2026 season, and based on the head-to-head tally of 19 meetings, further close contests between them should be expected.