Captain Babar Azam returned to form with a sluggish 46 but his tactical error as captain cost Peshawar Zalmi the match against Karachi Kings on April 22. In the last over, Karachi Kings needed nine runs. Babar had an option to go with Saim Ayub who had conceded 20 runs from three overs. Another option was Mitch Owen who took two wickets from five balls in the previous game. But, he went with Hussain Talat who was expensive the last time he bowled. Hasan Ali and Khushdil Shah hit one boundary each to take Karachi Kings home with two wickets in hand and three balls to spare.
Babar gets runs but Zalmi post below par total
Earlier, Kings skipper David Warner won the toss and opted to bowl first. Peshawar Zalmi lost two early wickets in form of Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore. They could not capitalise in the powerplay overs as Babar played in his typical fashion. He was dismissed lbw by Khushdil in the 10th over. The opener scored 46 runs from 41 balls including sven fours. Talat could not accelerate and fell for a 16-ball 18. Khushdil dismissed Owen and then Abbas Afridi joined the party with Mohammad Haris' wicket. Haris scored 28 runs from 21 balls. Afridi dismissed Samad and Luke Wood for single-digit scores as well. In the slog overs, Alzarri Joseph's unbeaten 13-ball 24 helped Peshawar Zalmi post 147/8.
Warner anchors run chase
Wood got Zalmi off to a good start by dismissing Tim Seifert for a golden duck. James Vince hit a couple of fours and then the top-edge off Wood's bowling. Kings lost another in powerplay overs as Ali Raza knocked over Saad Baig. At the halfway stage, they were 66/3. Irfan Khan struggled to get going and then got run out in the 11th over for a 16-ball 10. Mohammad Nabi could not make an impact either and fell to Arif Yaqoob for an 11-ball 14.Â
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Warner got the run chase back on track with three fours off Raza's over. He reached his fifty from 39 balls. Wood returned to knock over Warner. The skipper scored 60 runs from 47 balls. In the next over, Alzarri Joseph got the wicket of Abbas Afridi to put more pressure. Raza bowled a brilliant penultimate over where he conceded seven runs and got the wicket of Jamal. Babar handed the ball to Talat to defend nine runs as he did not trust Owen. Ayub was not introduced as Khushdil was in the middle. Khushdil hit Talat for a boundary, took a single and then Hasan Ali finished the run chase with a boundary as Kings pulled off a heist.
Khushdil becomes Kings's saviour
Khushdil was named 'Player of the match' for his all-round show including three wickets and unbeaten 23 off 16 balls. This is Karachi Kings' third win from five games and they are placed second on the points table. On the other hand, Zalmi are fourth with three losses from four games.