PSL 2018: Kamran Akmal’s inning help Peshawar Zalmi reach final, beat Karachi Kings by 13 runs

The game was reduced to 16 overs as Peshawar posted a good total of 170 in the first innings after they were put to bat.

The second eliminator between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings seemed to be cancelled at one point, but brilliant effort by the ground staff and the drying done by chopper made it possible. The game was reduced to 16 overs each side, as Peshawar posted a good total of 170 in the first innings after they were put to bat. Babar Azam  (63) and Joe Denly (79*) with their 117 run partnership failed to win it for Karachi as they lost by 13 runs.

Peshawar got the early wicket they were looking for in the form of Mukhtar Ahmed as he edged one to Darren Sammy in the first slip. At one point, Karachi needed 55 off 20 balls with nine wickets in the hand. Both, Babar and Joe were finding the fence often but could not match up to the run rate as they ended up in the losing side.

In the first innings, as soon as the rain shower stopped the Kamran Akmal storm arrived and it was raining sixes all over. Akmal smoked 77 off  27 deliveries with an unbelievable strike rate of 285. He hit eight sixes in his innings. In the process, he went past Luke Rochi in terms of most runs in PSL 2018. He even scored the fastest 50 in PSL off 18 balls. He was well supported by Andre Fletcher in absence of Tamim Iqbal. The pair added 107 for the opening wicket.

Kamran’s dream innings was put to an end by Ravi Bhopara in the 10th over. The run rate went down after his wicket. Darren Sammy smashed few sixes in the end overs. Bhopara ended up picking 3 for 35. However, it was Mohammad Amir who kept the run flow in control with his impressive spell conceding only 16 off his 4 overs where other bowlers leaked runs.

Brief Scores:

Peshawar Zalmi 170 in 16 overs (Kamran Akmal 77, Andre Fletcher 34; Ravi Bhopara 3 for 35) beat Karachi Kings 157 (Joe Denly 79*, Babar Azam 63; Sameen Gul 1 for 20) by 13 runs.