Monitoring Desk
SHARJAH: Peshawar Zalmi won the match against Karachi Kings by 44 runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.
Zalmi bowlers ripped through Karachi’s top order as only Babar Azam could keep his wicket intact leading to modest 66 from 50 balls. Joe Denly (0), Colin Ingram (0), Eoin Morgan (5) and Ravi Bopara (7) fell cheaply. Then, Shahid Afridi took the charge and gave the crowd some excitement with 26 off 8 with six 6s.
Blistering batting by Kamran Akmal drove Peshawar Zalmi to imposing total of 181 runs. Kamran bludgeoned 75 from 51 with three 4s and six 6s. Saad Nasim (35) and Darren Sammy (36) then contributed with the blade to give the run rate due impetus.
Usman Khan got three scalps for 11 runs. While, Ravi Bopara, Mohammad Amir and Shahid Afridi got one wicket apiece. Peshawar Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy won the toss and opted to bat first in a crucial match against Karachi Kings.
Kings will be targeting a victory while Peshawar Zalmi are fighting to stay in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Karachi Kings are sitting on nine points after eight games and if they win both their remaining matches they will be in a good position to end up as number one or second placed team.
Peshawar Zalmi, the title holders, have only six points after eight matches and if they lose today’s game they will join Lahore Qalandars as the second team to go out of the league. Karachi Kings’ new entry Eoin Morgan, who will lead the team in the absence of Imad Wasim who is recovering from an injury, felt excited about the challenge.
“I know it’s a challenge to lead the team. We will settle the right combination. It’s an exciting challenge, with a lot of teams playing for last four. Islamabad leads the table and they have been playing good cricket,” said Morgan. Karachi Kings will be pinning their hopes on top order comprising Joe Denly, Lendl Simmons, Babar Azam, Colin Ingram and Morgan to fire them to a good total and then look to their pace-cum-spin attack of Mohammad Amir, usman Shinwari and Shahid Afridi to fire them to the much needed win. Zalmi, on the other hand, hope that their misfiring top order with last year’s top run getter Kamran Akmal boost their total to put pressure on Karachi Kings.
