Liam Dawson took three wickets while Kamran Akmal scored a brilliant half century to lead Peshawar Zalmi to a 44-run victory.
Liam Dawson took three wickets while Kamran Akmal scored a brilliant half century to lead Peshawar Zalmi to a 44-run victory in their must-win game against Karachi Kings in Sharjah on Thursday, keeping their hopes alive for the playoffs.
Kamran’s 51-ball 75 studded with five sixes and three boundaries which lifted Peshawar Zalmi to an imposing 181-6 before Dawson’s 3-17 in an economical and impressive four overs knocked Karachi Kings down to 137-8 in 20 overs.
Karachi Kings need to win their last game against Islamabad United on Friday but before them, on the same day, Zalmi must beat Lahore Qalandars to remain in a chance for the playoffs.
Babar Azam fought a lone battle during his 50-ball 68 spiced with four sixes and as many boundaries but once the asking rate climbed, he lost his wicket in the 17th over with his team still needing 65 for the win.
Apart from Babar only Shahid Afridi looked in a mood to score, smashing four sixes in his eight-ball 26, three in one Sameen Gul’s over but his innings was too little to pose any danger for his old franchise.
Wahab Riaz took 2-26 in his four overs.
It was Kamran who gave the platform to Peshawar Zalmi.
Kamran Akmal’s 51-ball 75 with five sixes and three boundaries set the platform for Peshawar Zalmi while Darren Sammy’s 14-ball 36 and Saad Nasim’s 18-ball 35 gave the impetus to the innings.
After a slow start, Kamran pulled things up as Zalmi managed 93 from overs 6-15 after being 58-2 in the first ten.
Kamran hit a six and four off spinner Usama Mir to complete his fifty off 38 balls and then hoisted two sixes and Saad one in one Shahid Afridi over who finished with 1-34 in his four overs.
It was pacer Usman Shinwari, who earlier had Mohammad Hafeez for nought, who had Kamran caught at the boundary in the 16th over. Saad then took the baton charge with three boundaries in one Mohammad Amir over while Sammy smashed three sixes in Mohammad Irfan over.
Shinwari was the pick of the bowlers with 3-11 in his four overs while Irfan conceded 46 in his three overs.
Saad had four boundaries and two sixes while Sammy cracked four sixes and two boundaries.
Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators lock horn in Thursday’s other game.
