HBL PSL 2017 – 3rd Playoff: Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi

Peshawar Zalmi (181 for 3 in 20 overs)

Karachi Kings (157 for 7 in 20 overs)

Gifs Zalmi Batting:

Kamran Akmal SIX off Imad Wasim 8.4 overs

Kamran Akmal SIX off Bopara 13.6 overs

Kamran Akmal 100 off Amir 17.1 overs

Gifs Kings Batting

Babar Azam OUT Chris Jordan 1.1 overs

Gayle OUT Wahab Riaz 11.5 overs

Pollard SIX off Asghar 12.5 overs

Sohail Khan one run Sammy 20. Overs Zalmi win

DUBAI March 3: Kamran Akmal scored a sublime century, the first of the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) edition as Peshawar Zalmi booked a spot in the tournament final with a comfortable 24 run win over Karachi Kings.

Asked to bat first on a batting friendly track in front of a heaving, packed to capacity Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Kamran led the Zalmi onslaught in a 97 run stand with opener Dawid Malan who made a 36 run contribution.

Kamran played some delightful shots in his 65 ball innings that included seven sixes and six fours. His stroke play brought immense joy to the Friday night crowd that had gathered to see the two teams fight for a spot in the Lahore final along with Quetta Gladiators.

Kamran brought up his century on the 60^th ball of his innings, he was run out shortly afterwards as Zalmi sought some quick runs towards the end of their innings.

Marlon Samuels played a useful 37 run hand off only 22 balls as Zalmi posted an impressive 181 run score.

Kings got off to a disastrous start losing their first four wickets with only 35 runs on the board. Their HBL PSL 2017 leading run scorer Babar Azam, captain Kumar Sangakkara, Shoaib Malik and Ravi Bopara were all dismissed cheaply as Zalmi bowlers started their stint with penetrative spells.

Chris Gayle struck four sixes in his 31 ball 40 run knock before he was bowled by Wahab Riaz. Kieron Pollard kept the Kings in the hunt with a belligerent 47 run innings which was studded with three sixes and four fours, his departure in the 18^th over signaled the end of the Kings resistance as they ended their 20 overs, 24 run short of the target.

Wahab and Chris Jordan took three wickets each in highly impressive spells; Zalmi though suffered a big blow before the final as star all-rounder Shahid Afridi was ruled out of the game after injuring his right hand while attempting to catch a tough chance off Pollard.

Kamran Akmal was meanwhile named man-of-the-match for his outstanding innings.