Cricket NEWS

Smith innings in vain, Karachi post second win

Karachi Kings overpowered defending champions Peshawar Zalmi by 5 wickets to record second straight victory in HBL-PSL 2018.

 

Zamli’s skipper Darren Sammy won the toss and decided to bat first on a good looking surface though Karachi captain also wanted to field first if they would have won the toss. Peshawar however started their innings with a big note as the opener Kamran Akmal and Tamim Iqbal leaked 16 runs in the very first over including 2 sixes and a four but in the very next over, Mohammad Aamir sent Kamran Akmal back to pavilion on 14 runs as he faced just 5 balls.

That was the turning point for the match as none of the batsmen stood in front of spin and seam attack of Kings other then Dwayne Smith who scored 71 runs in 51 balls with four boundaries and 5 gigantic sixes. Running between the wickets was a problem for Peshawar as 3 of their batsmen were run out and they managed to score 131 runs in 20 overs for the loss of 9 wickets. 8 of Peshawar batsmen couldnot move their score in double figures.

Shahid Afradi who was playing for the first time against his previous time begged 2 wickets while Mohammad Aamir also got 2 wickets. Mohammad Irfan junior and Tymal Mills picked up 1 wicket apiece.

Karachi’s start was not the ideal as they lost their first wicket on 17 runs when Khurram Manzoor was got out courtesy the brilliant catch taken by young Ibtisam Sheikh but couple of good partnerships put Kings on driving seat. Karachi lost their 4th wicket on 99 runs when Colin Ingram got out on 23 runs in 15th over Zalmi bowlers started exerting more pressure on Karachi batting and restricted Mohammad Rizwan and Ravi Bopara to singles and doubles as they starched the low scoring thriller to the last over when Kings required only 5 runs in 6 balls.

Both the batsmen took singles in first two balls of last over and Rizwan was facing the third ball when he tried to play big short but got out of the bowling of Mohammad Asghar and Karachi needed 3 runs in last 3 balls. Kings skipper Iman Wasim came to bat and he hit a big 6 on the first ball he faced and moved his team safely home to win the match by 5 wickets. It was Karachi’s second successive victory in the tournament. They will now face winless Lahore Qalanders tonight.

Joe Denly remained top scorer from Kings with 29 while Babar Azam scored 28 and Colin Ingram added 23 runs. Chris Jordan and Ibtisam Sheikh got 2 wickets each while Mohammad Asghar got 1 wicket from Peshawar.
Not very often do we see a player from the losing side being awarded the Player of the Match in small chases but Dwayne Smith of Peshawar wins the award for his unbeaten 71.

Match Summary:

Toss
Peshawar won the toss, elected to bat
Man of the Match
Dwayne Smith (Peshawar Zalmi)


PESHAWAR ZALMI 131/9(20 OVERS)

DR Smith*           71 (51)
Mohammad Amir   2/6 (2)
Kamran Akmal   14 (5)
Shahid Afridi         2/22 (4)
KARACHI KINGS 135/5(19.4 OVERS)

Joe Denly             29 (39)
Ibtisam Sheikh    2/25 (4)
Babar Azam        28 (20)
Chris Jordan        2/29 (4)

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