SHARJAH: Peshawar Zalmi juggernaut exhibited its true class in overcoming a tough start before completing a resounding 44-run victory over a clueless Karachi Kings in an HBL Pakistan Super League fixture at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Put in to bat after Imad Wasim won the toss on a lethargic pitch, Zalmi recovered from the early demise of Kamran Akmal (0). But Imam-ul-Haq and Umar Amin steadied the ship with a partnership of 44.

Kings put the 2017 champions in real strife by taking three wickets for one run in seven balls, leaving their rivals tottering at 48 for four.

But Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq stood firm and with Liam Dawson, resurrected the faltering Zalmi innings in a 52-ball stand that yielded 76 runs. The left-handed Imam, who was named Man of the Match, crossed 50 for the ninth time in T20 cricket before he saw Usman Khan Shinwari hold a high return to dismiss Dawson for a 33-ball 43 (four fours and one six).

Imam departed in the same over for a 43-ball 56 that included five boundaries and one six.

Sammy contributed a priceless 10-ball cameo to finish undefeated on 24 (three fours and one six) to push Zalmi to 153-8.

The Kings, in their reply, never got the chance to tee off the 154-run chase as they limped to 109-9 against a menacing Zalmi attack. The match saw the first instance in this tournament when a team did not manage to hit a single six.

Scoreboard

PESHAWAR ZALMI:

Kamran Akmal b Aamir 0
Imam-ul-Haq b Usman56
Umar Amin st Rizwan b Sikandar15
W.L. Madsen b Sikandar0
K.A. Pollard b Imad0
L.A. Dawson c and b Usman43
D.J.G. Sammy not out24
Wahab Riaz c Sikandar b Amir0
Hasan Ali run out 2
Umaid Asif not out0

EXTRAS (LB-9, W-4)13
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 20 overs)153
FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-47, 3-47, 4-48, 5-124, 6-131, 7-134, 8-141.
DID NOT BAT: Ibtisam Sheikh.
BOWLING: Mohammad Amir 4-0-22-1 (2w); Aamir Yamin 4-0-40-1; Usman Khan Shinwari 4-0-36-2 (2w); Imad Wasim 4-0-23-1; Sikandar Raza 4-1-23-2.

KARACHI KINGS:

L.S. Livingstone lbw b Hasan0
Babar Azam run out1
B.R. Dunk c Kamran b Wahab12
C.A. Ingram run out21
Sikandar Raza b Umaid14
Imad Wasim c Umar b Hasan26
Mohammad Rizwan not out32
Aamir Yamin c Dawson b Hasan0
Mohammad Amir c Wahab b Hasan0
Umar Khan c Hasan b Pollard0
Usman Khan Shinwari not out1

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-1)2
TOTAL (for nine wkts, 20 overs) 109
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-13, 3-15, 4-43, 5-55, 6-104, 7-105, 8-106, 9-107.
BOWLING: Hasan Ali 4-0-15-4 (1w); Umaid Asif 4-0-23-1; Wahab Riaz 4-0-29-1; Ibtisam Sheikh 1-0-10-0; Pollard 4-0-18-1; Dawson 3-0-13-0.

RESULT: Peshawar Zalmi won by 44 runs.
UMPIRES: R.K. Illingworth (England) and Rashid Riaz (Pakistan).
TV UMPIRE: Asif Yaqoob (Pakistan).
MATCH REFEREE: Mohammad Anees (Pakistan).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Imam-ul-Haq.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2019