PSL 2018 Eliminator 2: Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings

1.  Peshawar Zalmi won a thrilling match against Quetta yesterday and while some may call it their ability to handle pressure some may even term it as blind luck. But, it did not matter as Zalmi would now have to play against Karachi Kings to seal their spot in the final.
2. Zalmi and Karachi were in hopes of winning this match and seemed pretty confident as both of them had a well-balanced team. But, only one team was to emerge through and win this match.
3. Due to wet outfield the play was delayed, but the ground was dried in a spectacular fashion by a helicopter that swirled around the ground.
4. The maximum overs were reduced from 20 to 16 a side.
5. After a brief pitch inspection toss was held and it was won by Karachi who chose to field first.
6. Zalmi’s openers Kamran Akmal and Andre Fletcher walked out in the middle to start the proceedings for Zalmi while took hold on the new ball.
7. Karachi and in particular, Amir was expecting a few early wickets but Zalmi showed maturity as they chose not to attack Karachi’s main bowler Amir.
8. Both openers only scored 5 runs off Amir in his first two overs to see him off.
9. Then the demolition began as Zalmi went into rocket mode. A barrage of fours and sixes were unleashed by the Zalmi’s openers.
10.  Especially Kamran Akmal who was playing at a strike rate of 300+ was just out of reach of the Karachi bowlers.
11. Both openers shared a 107-run stand before Andre Fletcher holed out to Ravi Bopara at long-on. Dawson joined his partner in the middle and shot the first ball for a six thus showing what he has come here to do.
12.  However, Kamran could not hold out for long as he swung hard to hit the ball in the air where Mukhtar Ahmad was quick to get underneath the ball and complete the catch. Mohammad Hafeez now joined his partner on the crease.
13. This was now a golden opportunity for Karachi to restrict Zalmi from getting a decent score.
14. Bopara struck again in his next over and removed Hafeez; he had now claimed all of the three wickets of Zalmi. At 137/3 Zalmi’s skipper Sammy walked out in the middle.
15. Only 4 overs were left and Zalmi needed to put their foot on the gas and propel their total to 170-180+.
16. But Karachi struck again as Dawson was removed by Usman Khan leaving Zalmi at 150-4 in 14 overs. Saad Nasim now joined Sammy in the middle and two now had only left 2 overs left.
17. However, Zalmi could only manage 17 runs from the last 2 overs and gave a target of 170 to Karachi.
18. Karachi now required 171 to win in only 16 overs; a tough job obviously.
19. Joe Denly and Mukhtar Ahmad came in the middle. But after scoring 13 off the first over Zalmi struck as Sameen Gul removed Mukhtar Ahmad in the 2^ndover.
20. Babar Azam now came in the middle and joined Denly. Both batsmen scored all around the park and reached their individual fifties.
21. But after a 117-run stand between the two, Babar was sent back to the pavilion by Hasan Ali in the second last over of the match. Colin Ingram came to the crease and joined his partner.
22. It all came down to the last over and Karachi needed 26 off 6 balls. Wahab Riaz was given the ball and he had a job to do and he did it as only 13  runs were conceded by him in the last over.
23. So, a comfortable win for Peshawar in the end as a total of 170 proved too high for Karachi.
24. With that Zalmi has now confirmed their spot in the final against Islamabad United.

JL Denly

Babar Azam

RS Bopara

CA Ingram

Danish Aziz

Mohammad Rizwan †

Mohammad Amir (c)

TS Mills

Usman Khan

Usama Mir

Kamran Akmal †

Chris Jordan

Mohammad Hafeez

LA Dawson

Saad Nasim

Umaid Asif

DJG Sammy (c)

Hasan Ali

Wahab Riaz

Sameen Gul

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