KARACHI: A blitzing 77 runs by Afghan hitter Hazratullah Zazai helped Peshawar Zalmi eliminate defending champions Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) Eliminator 1 clash at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday night.
Zazai used 38 balls for his winning innings, hitting five sixes and ten boundaries and was declared the player of the match.
Peshawar will now face Islamabad United in Eliminator 2 to decide which side progresses to Thursday’s final against Multan Sultans, who won the Qualifier on Monday.
“We have done it! Thanks to all your love, support and prayers!” the Sultans said in a Twitter post.
Thisara Perera took his wicket after Zazai mishit a slower by the Sri Lankan all-rounder, while Kamran Akmal, who opened the innings with Zazai, scored 13 of 12 before being bowled out by Afghan wrest spinner Noor Ahmed.
After Akmal’s fall, Zazai hit the boundaries, but Inamul Haque, who arrived at the crease one-down, continued with his poor form and scored just 11 of 17.
Shoaib Malik and Khalid Usman made a partnership of 53 valuable runs. However, the slow innings soon turned from a one-sided contest into a nail-biting match.
Batting first, Karachi Kings’ openers provided their team with a good foundation of 41 runs before Sharjeel Khan lost his wicket to Muhammad Irfan in the fifth over.
Babar Azam was the highest scorer with 53 runs from 45 balls. But it was Perera whose quick 37 of 18 helped his side take the total to 175.
Muhammad Irfan bagged two wickets and conceded only 21 runs in his four overs while Wahab Riaz and Umaid Asif took two wickets.
Earlier in the day, the Multan Sultans won the toss and elected to bat, setting a defendable target of 181 runs for Islamabad United, the table topper winning eight out of 10 matches.
Sohaib Maqsood remained the top scorer from the winning side with 59 runs of 41 balls, while opener Shan Masood scored 25 of 22 balls.
A blitzing inning of 41 runs by Johnson Charles and 42 runs by Khushdil Shah helped Multan defend the total.
In the chase, Islamabad lost an early wicket of Colin Munro in the first over. Opener Usman Khwaja scored 70 of 41 balls, but no other batter could resist Multan Sultan bowlers.
Sohail Tanveer remained the most successful bowler of Multan Sultans, taking three wickets and conceding just 17 runs in his four overs.
The sixth edition of PSL resumed on June 9. It was suspended in March after several Pakistani players and officials tested positive for coronavirus.