Mohammad Amir stars as Karachi Kings beat Peshawar Zalmi in PSL thriller

Denzil Pinto 01:18 26/02/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn

    • Karachi Kings made it two wins out of two, holding their nerve to clinch a five-wicket victory over defending champions Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League on Sunday.

    Mohammad Amir (2-6) and Shahid Afridi (2-22) were among the wicket-takers as Peshawar managed 131-9 thanks to some big hitting from Dwayne Smith (71).

    It seemed that total would be chased down with ease as Joe Denly (29) and Babar Azam (28) got going. But Peshawar hit back with late wickets before Imad Wasim hit the winning six with two balls to spare.

    Here are the key moments from the seventh match of PSL 2018.

    KARACHI KINGS PROVE THEIR METTLE

    It’s still early in the competition but the manner of their victories suggests Karachi Kings can be serious contenders for the title. After overcoming last year’s runners-up Quetta Gladiators on Friday, they overpowered the defending champions. Their bowling unit is getting the wickets while their batsmen are doing enough to get them over the line. There’s still a long way to go but it’s looking very good at the moment.

    DWAYNE SMITH ONLY POSITIVE IN PESHAWAR BATTING

    It was a night to forget for Peshawar Zalmi. Only Tamim Iqbal (11), Kamran Akmal (14) and man of the match Dwayne Smith (71no) – their top three batsmen – reached double figures. That they reached 131-9 when it seemed it would be a struggle to get to 100 was all down to Smith. The 34-year-old has great T20 experience and made that count with a blistering knock from 51 deliveries. Four fours and five sixes were smashed by the West Indian that gave his team a fighting chance.

    POOR FIELDING COSTS ZALMI

    Peshawar pegged back Karachi Kings after what was a solid start, but poor fielding let them down. With Karachi on 109-4 and still 23 runs away from victory from 21 deliveries, two fielding errors allowed Mohammad Rizwan to continue batting.

    First, Rizwan was given a lifeline when his shot went just above the outstretched hands of Mohammad Asghar at long-on for a six. Then Chris Jordan, who was bowling the 17th over, failed to hit the stumps with Rizwan well short of the crease at the striker’s end.

    Recommended