Khurram Shahzad took 16 runs in the final over as Peshawar Zalmi beat Karachi Kings by two runs in the first clash of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi on Tuesday.
Batting first, Peshawar scored an impressive 199 runs on the scoreboard before limiting the home side to 197–5 in 20 overs thanks to excellent tapping from Cadmore and a superb bowling performance by the bowlers. Skippers Imad Wasim and Shoaib Malik shined in their comeback from Karachi.
However, Crumb rose to the occasion and lived up to captain Babar’s trust by throwing an excellent last-over to win the game for his team. In the final over, where he took 16 of 6 balls, started off as a good wide-yorker and missed a run. The second pitch was also a near-perfect Yorker, which also got a run. Crumb threw a no-ball on the third pitch but hit a good ball on a free hit. The right-handed bowler kept his cool and threw his next two pitches in the right area to protect the total and let Imad and Ben Cutting fall short of it. The all-rounder Imad fought hard as he scored 80 runs off his 47 balls unbeaten, including seven limits and four maximums. Imad and Malik built his 131-run partnership and staged Karachi’s comeback after Peshawar his Zalmi bowler shined by beating his opponents to his orders. The home side lost their first wicket when Shahjir Khan lost to former Yellow Storm skipper Wahab Briaz. Jimmy Niesham then sent Australian slugger Matthew Wade (23) and Pakistani young all-rounder Qasim Akram (7) back to the pavilion. Salman Irshad meanwhile scored a wicket with the first ball when he caught Haider Ali’s wicket from 10 balls he scored 12 runs.
After losing four of his wickets, skipper Imad Wasim and veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik led the Karachi chase and formed a great partnership. Wahab Riaz had a chance to send Malik home on the 17th, but he dropped the catch in front of Neesham. However, Wahab outscored Malik in the penultimate game, finishing a half-century before the all-rounder was intercepted by the veteran bowler. Wahab was unlucky on the final ball of the over, but he threw a no-ball to knock out Ben Cutting. The Australian batsman had to stay in the circle, but the left-arm pacemaker made a great comeback with a free-kick delivery at the wide yorker.
Earlier, the unstoppable Tom Kohler Cudmore helped Peshawar Zalmi score 199 runs on the scoreboard. After losing two quick wickets, Cadmore and his Babar of skippers helped Zalmi get back into the game. The English batsman delivered a sensational performance for his team as he recorded 92 carries from his 50 balls. Cadmore hit Kings skipper Imad three times in a row, and Babar showed a great ability to push boundaries.
Meanwhile, Babar also accompanied Cadmore, scoring seven fours and a maximum of 24 PSL 50s. The two batsmen made a massive partnership of 139 runs for the third wicket. However, the partnership fell apart after Imran sent Tahir Babal back to the pavilion after scoring 68 runs off 46 balls. After Babar left, Sri Lankan batsman Banuka Rajapaksa got a twist, but he was sent home after striking out six on six balls. After Mohammad Amir conceded two bounds in the first over, Mohammad Harris Mir greeted Hamza on the bounds, but the left-arm pacer pinned the young wicketkeeper-batsman for the pound, allowing Yorker to Swing inward. In the same over, Saim Ayub folded after Babar’s ill-fated run after his drive straight and caught Hamza’s hand before taking the wicket down at his end non-forward.