NEW DELHI:
Dwayne Smith scored an unbeaten 71 but it went in vain as
Karachi Kings
left it late to record a five-wicket win against
Peshawar Zalmi
at
Dubai International Cricket Stadium
in a
Pakistan Super League match on Sunday. Chasing 132, Karachi captain Imad Wasim hit a first-ball six in the last over of their chase as they overhauled the target scoring135/5 with two balls to spare.
In a low-scoring affair, barring Smith none of the other batsman from either side crossed even 30-run mark after Peshawar won the toss and opted to bat. Opener Karman Akmal, who scored a quick-fire fifty in his last match, continued his aggressive approach, clattering a six and two fours off consecutive deliveries in the first over. But his knock ended soon when Mohammad Amir trapped him lbw in his first over to send him back on 14. Tamim Iqbal took over the reins, driving and pulling Tymal Mills for two fours in an over but Amir was having none of it, having him out caught behind on 11.
Even though Smith was the only batsman who showed determination but he was involved in three run-outs during his knock - two of them - Ibtisam Sheikh (2) and
Darren Sammy (2) - were entirely his faults. But he repented by accelerating in the last four overs as Karachi scooped 48 runs in them. It helped as an injury prevented Amir from bowling further after he had taken 2/6 in two overs.
Karachi's chase began eventfully when a run-out went abegging in the first over in which opener Joe Denly hit two boundaries. But Peshawar did not have to wait for too long as in the second over, Khurram Manzoor (6) was brilliantly caught by Ibtisam at short third man. Then Denly (29) and Babar Azam (28) combined for a 41-run partnership to stabilise the innings.
At the halfway stage, Karachi had reached 66/2 and then Colin Ingram took on teenage legspinner Sheikh, smacking a full toss into the stand for a six and following that with a four to long-on. Despite losing Denly in the 13th over, they were well on course, needing 40 off 42. The required rate wasn't a problem and credit to Peshawar bowlers who did well to stretch the game into the 20th over. The fall of Rizwan (19) off the third delivery in the last over did give Peshawar fans a glimmer of hope but an ice-cool Wasim sent the ball soaring over long-on to take his team to second straight win in as many games.
With this win, Karachi have moved to the top spot in PSL 2018 points table with four points and are now the only unbeaten side in the season so far. They will be in action for second straight day when they take on Lahore Qalandars on Monday.
Brief Scores: Karachi Kings 135/5 (Joe Denly 29, Babar Azam 28, Ibtisam Sheikh 2/25, Chris Jordan 2/29) beat Peshawar Zalmi 131/9 (Dwayne Smith 71*, Mohammad Amir 2/6, Shahid Afridi 2/22) by five wickets
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