Openers power Peshawar Zalmi to easy win over Karachi Kings

Peshawar Zalmi thumped the Karachi Kings by 55 runs in almost a one-sided match in the 19th match of the seventh edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium

Chasing a mammoth total of 194, Karachi Kings suffered from an early blow, when aggressive batter Sharjeel Khan made an early to the pavilion, scoring just 14 runs off 16 balls. It was Salman Irshad who took the better of Sharjeel.

 Joe Clarke replaced Sharjeel Khan, when the Kings were one wicket down for 25 runs. Joe along with the skipper Babar Azam tried to build a recovery, as the pair managed to put a partnership of 60 runs.  Joe was undone by Livingstone on 26 (26).

Then, Afghan cricketer Mohammad Nabi joined Babar on the wicket, they two managed put up a partnership of 30 runs, but it was too late for Kings to bounce back in the game. It was Salman Irshad who plumbed Babar Azam in his last over. Babar produced a good knock once again and scored 59 runs off 46 balls. Nabi was removed by Mohammad Umar on 15 off 11 balls. Karachi managed to score 138-6 in their 20 overs.

For Peshawar Zalmi, Salman Irshad and Wahab Riaz bagged two wickets each. Mohammad Umar, Liam Livingstone took a wicket apiece.

Earlier, Karachi Kings won the toss and inivited the Zalmi to bat first. Zalmi batters Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Haris opened for the side, both managed to put a solid partnership for Zalmi of 97. Zazai scored 52 runs off 42 deliveries, clobbered six fours and one sixes. Mohammad Haris scored 49 runs off 27 balls, hammered four sixes and three fours. Shoaib Malik (31 off 21; three fours) and Ben Cutting (26 off 15; four boundaries) made healthy contributions to the Zalmi scorecard.

For Karachi Kings, Chirs Jordan bagged three wickets, conceding 41 runs. While, Mohammad Nabi, Umaid Asif and Qasim Akram took a scalp each.