Rawalpindi: Karachi Kings have overpowered former Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions, Peshawar Zalmi by six wickets to secure second consecutive victory in the ongoing PSL.
Zalmi, led by Wahab Riaz in the absence of Darren Sammy, were rattled in the opening over by Mohammad Amir who exhibited glimpse of his somewhat lost trademark swing and seam bowling by dismissing right-handers Tom Banton (lbw) and Haider Ali (bowled) with sharp deliveries.
Kamran Akmal (4) failed to fire again and got caught off Amer Yamin. Shoaib Malik’s gutsy 68-run innings (55 balls, six fours, one six) aided Peshawar Zalmi to reach 151/8 in 20 overs. Liam Livingstone (25) and Lewis Gregory (25) were the other notable contributors.
Amir bagged two more wickets in the later stage to earn an impressive tally of 4 for 25 in his four overs.
Kings’ start wasn’t ideal either as the left-handed opener, Sharjeel Khan (4) was trapped LBW by Hasan Ali in the first over.
It was all Kings show from there onwards as Babar Azam (70 not out) along with Alex Hales pushed the score beyond hundred in 11 overs. Babar hammered 10 fours in his 59-ball knock, while Hales crafted 6 fours and a couple of sixes for his 27-ball 49. Walton too chipped in with a 16-ball 22 before getting out in the 18th over. Kings overhauled the target in the next over.
Yasir Shah, who was inducted in the Zalmi squad, in place of the lanky leg-spinner Mohammad Mohsin, was impressive with 2 for 28 in his quota of overs.
Kings’ Mohammad Amir was declared man of the match.
Karachi Kings are now the third best side of the event, behind Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators, with six points in five games.
Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi have five points each in six matches, while Lahore Qalandars are yet to open their account in three encounters.