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Form is temporary, Class is Permanent! It is a very common phrase used in sports. On Friday, Pakistan's middle-order batsman Shoaib Malik produced a perfect demonstration of the same during PSL 2022 match between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.

After Zalmi's captain Wahab Riaz tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the start of match, the captaincy duties were handed to Malik at the eleventh hour. However, the 39-year-old did not shy away from the responsibility. Instead, he used his experience and did complete justice, showing the world once again why he is one of the best to have ever graced the game of cricket.

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In the first innings, when his bowlers were being hit all over the park, Malik decided to introduce himself into the attack and bowled a decent over, conceding only 8 runs. However, it was his courage which would have certainly motivated his teammates to go out there and play fearlessly.

Chasing a mammoth target of 191 runs, Zalmi had lost the plot with score reading 77/3 in 8.2 overs. But it was never over until the time Malik was at crease and the veteran cricketer showed exactly what experience can do in run-chases like this.

Malik, playing the role of anchor, continued to guide his young batting partner Husain Talat, who went after the bowlers. The duo stitched a solid partnership before Rutherford also came and played a little cameo.

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Meanwhile, the Zalmi stand-in captain continued to chop in with crucial runs here and there and just when things were getting tight, Malik smashed three consecutive boundaries (6, 4, 6) in the penultimate over being bowled by James Faulkner to turn the tides once again.

The 39-year-old kept his composure and eventually hit the winning runs in the final over, to open Zalmi's account in PSL 2022. Indeed, a true captain's knock!

Watch how Malik & Co. won the game for Zalmi:

Shoaib Malik remained unbeaten on 48* off 32 balls, hitting 1 four and 4 sixes during a sensational match-winning knock.