Zalmi players celebrate a wicket against Kings (Source: Twitter/PCB)
Peshwar Zalmi snapped their two-match losing streak this PSL 2023 season by winning big over a hapless Karachi Kings unit in Rawalpindi.
Zalmi’s middle-order batters countered Mohammad Amir’s sublime new-ball gambit to post a massive first-innings total. Later, young all-rounders Azmatullah Omarzai and Aamer Jamal snared three wickets each in the Kings’ run-chase as Zalmi romped home with a 24-run win to move to number four on the PSL 2023 points table.
Powell, Khan lifts Zalmi after Amir’s opening rumble
Earlier, Karachi Kings skipper Imad Wasim had won the toss and invited the Peshwar Zalmi side to bat first. His new-ball pacer Mohammad Amir removed both Zalmi openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris, for ducks in the opening over of the game itself. A while later, the speedster snared his third victim of the evening as the Zalmi batters were reduced to 2-3 earlier in the match.
However, captain Wasim’s decision to delay Amir’s spell proved costly for his side as the Zalmi middle-order took this opportunity to revitalize their innings. While their top three combined to score just a run, each of their next three batters cracked sparkling half-centuries in the middle overs.
Rovman Powell top-scored in the innings with a 34-ball 64, while English import Tom Kohler-Cadmore remained undefeated at 56. Wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah Khan clubbed a 29-ball 50 as the trio elevated the Zalmi total to 197-5 until their 20 overs.
Wade, Wasim stage two-man rebellion as Kings falter before Omarzai
Kings’ opener Matthew Wade struck a boundary-laden 53 at the top. However, the Australian batter received little assistance from the rest of the top-order as his side had crumbled to 95-5 by the time of his departure.
Skipper Wasim struck some hard blows at the death, scoring 57 unbeaten runs off just 30 deliveries. Despite their half-centuries, 173 was all Kings could manage in their response as they fell short of their task by 24 runs.
Zalmi’s all-round pacers Azmatullah Omarzai and Aamer Jamal claimed three wickets each in the innings and were assisted by Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s twin strikes at the top.
Brief Scores:
Peshawar Zalmi: 197/5 (20)
Rovman Powell 64 (34), Tom Kohler-Cadmore 56* (45);
Mohammad Amir 4/26, Tabraiz Shamsi 1/25
Karachi Kings: 173/8 (20)
Imad Wasim 57* (30), Matthew Wade 53 (41);
Azmatullah Omarzai 3/28, Aamer Jamal 3/43
Peshawar Zalmi won by 24 runs
 "Aakash Saini")
