KARACHI: Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi kick started their Pakistan Super League (PSL) campaign with a thrilling victory over hosts Karachi Kings in the second match of the tournament at the National Stadium in Karachi on Tuesday.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Babar Azam helped Zalmi set a 200-run target for Karachi Kings to win the high-voltage match. Wahab Riaz got rid of Kings’ hitter Sharjeel Khan in the very first over.
Matthew Wade was the second one to go in the fourth over, following his quick 23 off 15 balls. Qasim Akram and Haider Ali lost their wickets in sixth and seventh over after scoring 7 and 12 runs, respectively.
Kings’ captain Imad Wasim and Shoaib Malik continued to add runs to the score board, but Zalmi bowlers made it difficult for them to achieve the target with their brilliant bowling skills.
Malik scored 52 off 34 balls before Riaz picked up his wicket. Wasim scored an unbeaten 80 runs, but his huge innings was not enough to guide the hosts to a victory.
James Neesham was the top performer among Zalmi bowlers, who sent two batters to pavilion in his four overs by conceding just 26 runs. Riaz also picked up two wickets in his four overs.
Salman Irshad picked up one wicket in his two overs.
Earlier, Karachi Kings won the toss and invited Peshawar to bat first.
Peshawar lost two early wickets after the Mir Hamza sent opener Mohammad Haris (10) back to pavilion. Saim Ayub was the second one to go in the same over.
Cadmore and Azam then laid a solid foundation for their side and added a valuable 139 runs to the total before the skipper was caught by Andrew Tye, taking the team’s total to 155 in 15 overs.
Cadmore, who hit three consecutive sixes, was caught on a delivery by Ben Cutting. He scored 92 off 50 balls.
