Hapless Karachi crumble before mighty Peshawar

ISLAMABAD: An all-around performance by Peshawar Zalmi led them to a comprehensive six-wicket victory against defending champions Karachi Kings in match 24 of the Pakistan Super League 6 in Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Zalmi were given a target of 109 by the Kings and the team completed the target with 54 balls to spare.

Early in the chase, Zalmi lost Kamran Akmal to Aamir Yamin in the second over for 9 when he tried to drive him towards mid-off but instead, the ball hit his stumps. The early wicket would have given hope to the Kings to make it a tough run chase for Peshawar. However, Hazratullah Zazai and Haider Ali took it upon themselves to hit the Kings bowlers all over the ground and leave them helpless against their assault.

In the sixth over, Zazai completed his half-century off 17 balls to join teammate Kamran Akmal and Islamabad United’s Asif Ali in holding the record for the joint-fastest half-century. The Zalmi were looking good and could have defeated the Kings by nine wickets but late wickets by the Karachi bowlers reduced the margin.

It looked like Zazai would end the game with an unbeaten score but Imad Wasim played spoilsport and dismissed the Afghan spinner in the ninth over for 63. In the same over the Kings’ captain also dismissed Shoaib Malik after he tried to hit him over a six to take his side closer to the finish line. In the next over, Noor Ahmed dismissed Haider Ali to push them four down but the game was already out of Karachi’s hands. In the 12th over, Ahmed bowled a wide that went for a four to give Peshawar Zalmi a win.

The victory has taken Peshawar to the number two spot on the points table and pushed the Kings down to number five. In the first innings, Zalmi skipper Wahab Riaz led his bowlers to restrict Kings to 108 runs.