Kabul Zalmi produced a brilliant batting display to defeat Abasin Defenders by 5 wickets in the 3rd match of the Kabul Premier League 2025 on October 11, 2025. After Abasin Defenders posted a strong total of 226 for 5 wickets in their 20 overs, Kabul Zalmi’s batsmen rose to the challenge and chased down the target in just 17.2 overs, scoring 232 for 5. The victory came with 16 balls remaining, showing the aggressive intent and strong batting depth of the Zalmi side.
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Wickets | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abasin Defenders | 226 | 20.0 | 5 | Lost by 5 wickets |
| Kabul Zalmi | 232 | 17.2 | 5 | Won by 5 wickets |
Match Details:
- Venue: Kabul
- Date: October 11, 2025
- Match: 3rd Match, Kabul Premier League 2025
- Result: Kabul Zalmi won by 5 wickets (with 16 balls remaining)
Top Performers
Top 3 Batsmen – Abasin Defenders
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hassan Eisakhil | 91 | 51 | 8 | 3 | 178.43 |
| Bahar Shinwari | 39 | 26 | 4 | 7 | 150.00 |
| Wafiullah Tarakhil | 28 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 215.38 |
Top 3 Batsmen – Kabul Zalmi
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masood Gurbaz | 128 | 46 | 6 | 6 | 278.26 |
| Sharafuddin Ashraf | 21 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 233.33 |
| Mohammad Akram (c) | 20 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 200.00 |
Match Analysis
First Innings: Abasin Defenders Set Strong Target
Abasin Defenders batted first and put up an impressive total of 226 runs while losing just 5 wickets. The star of their innings was Hassan Eisakhil, who played a brilliant knock of 91 runs off just 51 balls. His innings included 8 fours and 3 sixes at an amazing strike rate of 178.43. Hassan’s explosive batting gave the Defenders a strong platform and kept the scoreboard moving quickly.
Wafiullah Tarakhil gave the team a flying start with a quick-fire 28 runs off only 13 balls, smashing 6 sixes at a strike rate of 215.38. Although he got out in the 4th over, his aggressive approach set the tone for the innings. Bahar Shinwari also played an important role, scoring 39 runs off 26 balls with 4 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 150.00.
The Defenders maintained a run rate of 11.30 per over throughout their innings. With only 5 wickets down, they kept wickets in hand till the end, allowing them to attack freely in the final overs. Their total of 226 was one of the highest scores in the tournament so far and gave them confidence going into the break.
Second Innings: Zalmi’s Aggressive Chase
Kabul Zalmi came out with clear intent to chase down the big target quickly, and they had the perfect man for the job. Masood Gurbaz played one of the greatest T20 innings in Kabul Premier League history, smashing an unbelievable 128 runs off just 46 balls. His knock included 6 fours and 6 sixes at a stunning strike rate of 278.26. Gurbaz’s explosive batting made the huge target look easy and put Zalmi in complete control.
Captain Mohammad Akram gave the team a flying start with a quick 20 runs off 10 balls, hitting 1 four and an incredible 8 sixes at a strike rate of 200.00. Sharafuddin Ashraf provided the finishing touches with a rapid 21 runs off just 9 balls, including 2 fours and 1 six at a strike rate of 233.33.
The chase was completed in just 17.2 overs, which means Kabul Zalmi scored at a rate of 13.38 runs per over. Masood Gurbaz’s brilliant century made all the difference. Even though they needed to score at over 11 runs per over, Zalmi’s players stayed calm and kept finding boundaries. Losing only 5 wickets while chasing such a big total shows that Zalmi had multiple batsmen contributing to the chase.
Key Factors in Zalmi’s Victory
Masood Gurbaz’s Match-Winning Century: The wicketkeeper-batsman’s 128 off 46 balls was the difference between the two teams. His strike rate of 278.26 is one of the highest in the tournament, and his ability to find boundaries at will put the Defenders’ bowlers under huge pressure.
Strong Start from Captain: Mohammad Akram’s explosive start of 20 runs with 8 sixes gave Zalmi the perfect platform. His aggressive approach meant the required run rate never became too high.
Quick Scoring Rate: By finishing the chase with 16 balls remaining, Zalmi proved their batting strength. They didn’t panic even when the target looked big and maintained a scoring rate of over 13 runs per over.
Hassan Eisakhil’s Valiant Effort Not Enough: Despite Hassan’s brilliant 91 for the Defenders, his team couldn’t defend the total. This shows how dominant Masood Gurbaz’s innings was in the chase.
Good Net Run Rate: Winning with balls to spare helps improve the team’s net run rate, which can be important later in the tournament.
What’s Next?
This win will give Kabul Zalmi huge confidence as they move forward in the Kabul Premier League 2025. Their batting lineup has shown it can chase big totals, which makes them a dangerous team in the tournament. They will look to continue this winning momentum in their upcoming matches.
For Abasin Defenders, this loss will be hard to take. Despite scoring 226 runs, they couldn’t defend their total. Their bowling unit will need to improve and find ways to take early wickets when defending big scores. The Defenders still have time to bounce back in the tournament.
Both teams will return to action soon as the Kabul Premier League continues with more exciting matches in the coming days.