PAKISTAN: Shoaib Malik’s all-around performance helped Peshawar Zalmi defeat Karachi Kings by nine runs. After winning this match, Peshawar Zalmi is at the 4th position in the Pakistan Super League points table. In this match, after winning the toss, Karachi Kings decided to bowl first.
Hazratullah Zazai gave Peshawar Zalmi a great start as he and his opening partner Kamran Akmal added 53 runs in the mandatory powerplay. Hazratullah Zazai was the aggressor in this partnership as he scored 41 runs off 27 deliveries, which included five fours and two sixes.
Umaid Asif gave his team Karachi Kings their first breakthrough as he removed Hazratullah Zazai in the last ball of the powerplay, and Peshawar Zalmi was 53/1 after six overs. Haider Ali was joined Kamran Akmal in the middle after the fall of Hazratullah Zazai.
Haider Ali and Kamran Akmal added 19 runs before Umaid Asif, and Peshawar Zalmi removed Akmal were 74/2 after 9.2 overs. Kamran Akmal scored 21 runs off 19 deliveries, including two fours.
Haider Ali was having some trouble with his timing as he was scoring at a strike rate of less than 100. Shoaib Malik was the next man in, and he didn’t take much time to settle in as he smashed a six off the 4th delivery that he faced.
Shoaib Malik and Haider Ali stitched up a 29 runs partnership. After scoring 16 runs off 21 deliveries, Haider Ali got out, and Peshawar Zalmi was 103/3 after 12.2 overs.
Shoaib Malik and the next batter, Ben Cutting, added 59 runs partnership. Shoaib Malik also brought up his half-century in just 25 deliveries and helped Peshawar Zalmi post a total of 173/4 after 20 overs.
Shoaib Malik scored an unbeaten 52 runs off 28 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes, while Ben Cutting scored 24 runs off 22 deliveries, including 1 six. Sherfane Rutherford faced four deliveries in the last over in which he scored nine runs which included 1 six.
For Karachi Kings, Umaid Asif took three wickets, and Aamer Yamin took one wicket.
Karachi Kings were off to a dreadful start as they lost two wickets under the first two overs. Shoaib Malik took the first wicket of Sharjeel Khan (0), whereas Mohammad Umar took the second wicket of Sahibzada Farhan (0).
Karachi Kings were 3/2 after 1.4 overs. After two quick wickets, Ian Cockbain joined Babar Azam at the crease. Ian Cockbain and Babar Azam stitched up 74 runs partnerships between them.
Ian Cockbain was the scoring runs at a 150+ strike rate, whereas Babar Azam was steadily building up his innings. Usman Qadir gave Peshawar Zalmi their third breakthrough as he removed Ian Cockbain for 31 runs off 19 deliveries, including five fours.
Karachi Kings were 77/3 after ten overs. Mohammad Nabi joined Babar Azam after the fall of Cockbain, but he couldn’t stay for a long time at the crease as he got out after scoring just ten runs.
Babar Azam got a little support from Aamer Yamin, who scored 20 runs off 15 deliveries but got out in the 18th over. Karachi Kings needed 46 runs off 17 deliveries, and Babar Azam was batting at 65*.
Karachi Kings scored three runs in the 18th over and lost two wickets. Babar Azam switched gears and smashed five fours and 1 six in the last two overs, but it wasn’t enough as Karachi Kings lost the match by nine runs. Babar Azam played a splendid inning as he scored an unbeaten 90 runs off 63 deliveries, including 12 fours and 1 six.
For Peshawar Zalmi, Mohammad Umar took three wickets while Shoaib Malik, Usman Qadir, and Hussain Talat took one wicket each.
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