PSL 7: Peshawar Too Strong As Karachi Remain Winless.

PSL 7: Peshawar Zalmi inflicted more misery on Karachi Kings as the injury hit side were beaten again to leave them winless in PSL 7 so far.

Batting first it was Hazratullah Zazai who took charge of proceedings scoring a quick fire 41 inside the powerplay. His wicket came on the last ball of powerplay as Umaid Asif struck against his former side.

Umaid proved to be the pick of the bowlers as he took two more wickets to finish with 3 for 36 in his four overs.

The old horse Shoaib Malik then once again proved even at this age he has the ability to win matches. Malik scored an unbeaten 52 off 28 balls, forging crucial partnerships in the middle to take Zalmi to a decent total of 173/4.

Shoaib Malik would then affect the match with the ball as he got rid of the in-form Sharjeel Khan for a first ball duck. Mohammad Umar then got rid of Sahibzada Farhan in the next over to leave Karachi at 3/2.

Captain Babar Azam then found his touch to add 74 runs with Ian Cockbain as the duo ignited hopes of a first win of the season for the beleaguered Kings.

But Usman Qadir accounted for Cockbain, with Malik once again in the act with his catching.

With 63 needed off 5 overs and Babar on the crease anything seemed possible, but the ODI cricketer of the year didn’t get the support he needed from the other end.

Salman Irshad’s tight 17th over put pressure on Karachi, with  Mohammad Umar picking two wickets in the 18th over in a space of three balls.

Despite Babar’s late hitting the target proved to be too far for Kings who have now lost their opening four games of this PSL season.

Brief Scores:

Peshawar Zalmi173/4 in 20 overs (Malik 52*, Zazai 41; Asif 3-36) 

Karachi Kings 164/6 in 20 overs (Babar 90*; Mohammad Umar 3-22).