Daily Times

DUBAI: Peshawar Zalmi thrashed Karachi Kings by 24 runs in the last playoff to qualify for the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Dubai International Stadium here on Friday night. Zalmi will take on Quetta Gladiators in the final to be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday (today). Chasing a formidable target of 182, Karachi lost their way when they were five wickets down for just 80 runs in the 12th over. With too many runs needed of too many balls, Keiron Pollard struck 47 off just 26 balls to show some fight for Karachi but once he departed the flare of hope died out too. The uninspired second innings played by the blue shirts was dotted with dot balls and singles, with middle-order wickets falling thick and fast. The blue shirts’ count of 23 runs during the powerplay was the lowest score in a powerplay in PSL history. The other high-scorer for Karachi was Chris Gayle with 40, but even the West Indian batsmen were unable to salvage what was left of the innings after early wickets fell quickly. Paceman Wahab Riaz chipped in with 3-24 as Karachi were restricted to 157-7.

Earlier, a solid 97-run partnership between Kamran Akmal and Dawid Malan – propped up by nine fours and four sixes off the first 10 overs – was the best opening stand for Peshawar in the PSL. The duo lifted Peshawar to 181-3 in their 20 overs after being sent into bat. Akmal, who smashed a century off 60 balls – the first century this season – also hit a personal milestone of 4,000 Twenty20 runs. He was awarded Man of the Match. Shahid Afridi was benched after sustaining a hand injury while fielding during the second innings. “Credit goes to fast-bowlers; all of them bowled well,” said Kamran in the post-match presentation ceremony. “I started the tournament nicely but lost my way in the middle but the management gave me confidence and I delivered today.” Sohail Khan and Mohammad Amir were the only successful bowlers for Karachi with one wicket each.