Peshawar Zalmi down Karachi Kings in crucial clash
Peshawar Zalmi have defeated Karachi Kings by 24 runs during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) clash on Wednesday at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
Despite losing Adam Rossington, 15 runs in eight balls, the Kings scored 55 runs in the first powerplay.
However, Azmatullah Omarzai provided a crucial breakthrough in the seventh over of the match after Tayyab Tahir (6), who scored a fifty in the previous match, was caught behind the stumps.
With Karachi looking to up the ante, two wickets fell in quick succession to give Peshawar edge over Karachi. Irfan Khan (4) and Shoaib Malik (1) went back to the hut without a significant contribution.
Opener Matthew Wade, who looked in good touch, was cleaned up by Mujeeb Ur Rahman after scoring 53 runs in 41 balls.
After Wade’s departure, the Kings lost their way and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Skipper Imad Wasim scored unbeaten 57 runs in 30 balls but was unable to get his team over the line.
Aamer Jamal and Omarzai claimed three wickets each, meanwhile Mujeeb bagged two scalps.
Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi had set Karachi Kings a target of 198 runs during the crucial Pakistan Super League (PSL) clash.
After being asked to bat first, Zalmi scored 197-5 in their allotted 20 overs despite being on the ropes in the early part of the innings.
Pacer Mohammad Amir gave Karachi Kings a perfect start against Peshawar Zalmi after dismissing Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris in the first over of the innings. Both batters were dismissed for a duck.
Amir claimed his third wicket of the match when Saim Ayub (1) was caught at deep square leg after a loosely played flick shot.
However, youngster Haseebullah Khan, who is playing his first match, scored an impressive fifty to get his team back on track. The left-hander scored 50 runs in 29 balls, which included four fours and three sixes, before being dismissed by Tabraiz Shamsi.
Meanwhile, Karachi’s hopes of restricting Peshawar to a low total were thwarted by Rovman Powell, who smacked the bowlers to all parts of the ground. His explosive 34-ball 64 included six fours and four sixes.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore also chipped in with a solid contribution of 56 runs in 45 balls. His innings included five fours and three sixes.
Amir was the pick of the bowlers for Karachi with figures of 4-26 in four overs.
It must be noted that Karachi Kings won the toss and decided to bowl first against Peshawar Zalmi during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
Kings are placed in fourth position on the points table with four points after two wins in six matches.
Meanwhile, Zalmi are in fifth place with four points after five matches.
In the opening fixture between the two sides in PSL 8, Zalmi won a thriller by two runs.
Teams:
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Haseebullah Khan, Rovman Powell, Aamer Jamal, Wahab Riaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Arshad Iqbal, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Karachi Kings: Matthew Wade, Adam Rossington (wk), Tayyab Tahir, Shoaib Malik, Irfan Khan, Imad Wasim (c), Ben Cutting, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Tabraiz Shamsi, Akif Javed