Haris, Zazai, Salman star as Peshawar claim comprehensive win over Karachi

Peshawar Zalmi outclassed Karachi Kings to keep their hopes alive for the play-off stage of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) season seven at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Zalmi put 193 for six on the board due to their death overs' onslaught that was followed by the solid start from the openers.

Later, Karachi Kings failed to keep up with the required rate and could only score 138 for six, handing 55 runs win to Zalmi.

A dominating win for Peshawar Zalmi against Karachi Kings 🙌

Babar Azam led side is now virtually out of the contention of finishing in the top four

Scorecard: https://t.co/vTFQCttE6D#PZvKK #HBLPSL7 pic.twitter.com/9A95vuFRph

— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) February 13, 2022

This defeat has virtually ended chances for Karachi Kings to qualify for the next stage as they are winless after six games. 

After being put in to bat first by the Kings’ skipper – Babar Azam, Zalmi’s openers, Hazaratullah Zazai and Mohammad Haris, came out handy and provided a solid start to their side, gathering an astonishing 97-run partnership. 

Haris missed his fifty by just one run, Zazai reached 52 off 42 balls. Haris cracked four sixes and three fours while Zazai had to his credit seven boundaries with one over the ropes. 

The pair was firmly extending dictating terms but their stand lasted till the 10th over. Haris’s quick 49 came off just 27 balls and was stopped by Mohammad Nabi. His partner, Zazai, was soon dismissed as he miscued Qasim Akram’s delivery, handing a simple catch to Babar.

Following their departure, the side then quickly slipped to 122-3, but the veteran batter – Shoaib Malik alongside Ben Cutting provided an important 45-runs partnership to give the spine to the innings.

Malik scored 31 off 21 while Cutting scored 26 off 15 deliveries before getting dismissed. Sherfane Rutherford then provided a late onslaught with a quickfire 11 off just five balls to take his side to a commendable total.

From Kings bowling, Chris Jordan bagged three wickets, while Qasim, Nabi, and Umaid Asif chipped in with one each.

For Karachi, Babar Azam stood out there to clobber 59 runs in 46 balls. He also shared a 60 runs stand of the second wicket with Joe Clarke (26) who was the highest scorer after Babar.

Peshawar developing the pressure on Kings with every bit and increase in the required run rate knew well in advance that the match was in the kitty. 

Sharjeel Khan struggled to find his groove, scoring 14 off 16 balls while Nabi (15) and Ian Cockbain (14) didn't have much time to keep up with the scoring rate.

Salman Irshad and Wahab Riaz shared two wickets each while Mohammad Umar and Liam Livingstone claimed with one apiece.