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RAWALPINDI: David Warner and James Vince powered Karachi Kings to defeat Peshawar Zalmi and qualify for the playoffs of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a mammoth 238-run target, Peshawar Zalmi put up a spirited fight but eventually fell short, managing 214/5 in their 20 overs to hand Karachi Kings a convincing victory.
Zalmi’s chase began with promise as Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub stitched a quickfire 30-run opening stand. But the momentum was dented early when Haris departed for 9 in the third over.
Ayub, however, carried on confidently and found a reliable partner in skipper Babar Azam.
The left-hander added 77 runs with Babar for the second wicket before falling to Abbas Afridi in the 11th over. Ayub scored a fluent 47 off 31, peppered with five boundaries and a couple of sixes.
Babar then took charge, playing the anchor as wickets continued to tumble around him. He stitched brief partnerships with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Max Bryant, but Zalmi’s hopes of a successful chase rested firmly on his shoulders.
Just as Babar inched closer to a well-earned century, his innings met a cruel end, a run out on 94 off 49 balls, featuring 10 fours and 4 sixes.
His dismissal in the 18th over left Zalmi needing 55 runs off the final 13 deliveries, with too much left for the lower order to chase down.
Maaz Sadaqat (19)* and Hussain Talat (12)* fought till the end but could only add 30 runs together, as Zalmi eventually finished 23 runs shy of the target.
Among the bowlers, Abbas Afridi led the charge for the Kings with 2/48 in his four overs. Hasan Ali and Mir Hamza chipped in with one wicket each.
Earlier, Karachi Kings posted a massive 237/4 in their allotted 20 overs after being invited to bat first by Peshawar Zalmi, thanks to a record second-wicket stand between David Warner and James Vince.
The innings couldn’t have started on a more dramatic note, with Luke Wood striking gold on the very first delivery, dismantling debutant Ben McDermott for a golden duck.
But the early breakthrough only paved the way for fireworks.
David Warner, joined by Vince at the crease, staged a sensational recovery for Karachi Kings.
The duo stitched together a 162-run partnership for the second wicket, combining power with precision and turning the momentum firmly in the Kings’ favour.
Vince was the first to depart, falling to Ali Raza in the 15th over after a fine 42-ball 72, laced with 11 boundaries and a six.
The very next over, Zalmi found another opening when Wood removed the dangerous Muhammad Irfan Khan for just two.
Warner, having anchored the innings brilliantly, finally perished for a commanding 86 off 50 balls, caught at deep mid-wicket off Arif Yaqoob in the 17th over.
His knock featured 11 fours and 2 sixes, providing the perfect platform for the lower order to explode. That’s exactly what Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Nabi did.
The all-round duo smashed an unbeaten 70-run stand in the final overs to push the total well beyond the 230 mark.
Khushdil was the chief aggressor, hammering 43 off just 15 balls*, while Nabi chipped in with a handy 26 off 10*.
With the ball, Luke Wood stood out for Peshawar Zalmi, returning excellent figures of 2/19 in four overs. Arif Yaqoob and Ali Raza chipped in with a wicket apiece.
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