Peshawar Zalmi have qualified for a successive second time in the Pakistan Super League. They defeated Karachi Kings by 13 runs at Lahore on Wednesday.

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal was not included in the playing XI for Zalmi. Winning the toss, Karachi decided to bowl first.

Kamran Akmal and Andre Fletcher opened the innings for Peshawar Zalmi. The match was reduced to 16 overs for both sides after being marred by rain. Akmal and Fletcher presented a 107-run opening partnership from 55 deliveries.

Ravi Bopara sent both openers back to the hut in the 10^th over. Kamran made 77 off 27 and Fletcher scored 34 runs. The rest of the batsmen just kept the score ticking but could not stretch their individual innings as Zalmi finished their innings with 170 runs on the board for 7 wickets.

Tymal Mills bagged two wickets and Bopara took another scalp before Usman Khan got a wicket for the bowling side.

Karachi Kings, after losing their 1^st wicket on 13 runs, saw a great partnership between Babar Azam and Joe Denly. Babar returned to the pavilion scoring 63 runs. However, Joe Denly remained unbeaten on 79 runs but failed to utilize Karachi’s second chance to advance to the final.

Hasan Ali and Sameen Gul took one wicket each as Karachi ended up scoring 157 runs losing 2 wickets in 16 overs. Karachi lost two back-to-back playoffs.

Peshawar Zalmi, on the other hand, won two consecutive playoffs and will face Islamabad United on March 25. Both the finalists have won the title once each by beating Quetta Gladiators in the finals of the previous two seasons.

 

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