Lahore March 21: Defending champions Peshawar Zalmi moved a step closer to their HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) title defence by scoring an emphatic 13 run win over Karachi Kings in Elminator 2 played in front of a packed to capacity Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

Chasing 171 for a win in 16 overs after the match was reduced (16 overs aside) due to heavy rain preceding the game, Kings were never able to push the tempo despite a fine effort by Joe Denly (79)* and Babar Azam 63.

The duo added 117 for the second wicket but struggled to break the shackles against the five pronged Zalmi pace attack.

The asking rate kept mounting and despite losing only two wickets Kings were left to rue the profligacy of their bowlers that cost them their first ever spot in the HBL PSL final.

Earlier a belligerent 27 ball innings of 77 by Man-of-the-Match Kamran Akmal took the wind out of the Kings’ sales.

The swashbuckling opener who’s the leading run getter in the HBL PSL 2018 season once again toyed with the opposition with an array of dazzling strokes.

Kamran’s incredible innings included right sixes and five hours as the Kings bowling attack was shredded to pieces early on in the match.

Left-armer Usman Shinwari bore the brunt of Kamran’s attack as his second over, the fifth of the Zalmi innings was taken for 25 runs.

Andre Fletcher and Kamran added 107 for the opening wicket with Fletcher contributing 34 off 30 balls with the help of two sixes and three fours.

Zalmi stuttered for a brief while as Ravi Bopara took three wickets but Daren Sammy’s 12 ball 23 run innings ensured a monumental 170 run total keeping the asking rate more than 10.5 runs per over.