The Kingsmen started with intent, as Marnus Labuschagne and Maaz Sadaqat found early boundaries, while Saim Ayub anchored the innings with a fighting 54 off 50 balls.
However, regular wickets prevented them from building a commanding total.
The turning point came through Rana’s explosive pace. The young speedster struck immediately with a dramatic dismissal of Glenn Maxwell, removing him for a golden duck with a sharp short ball that forced a mistimed shot. It was a breakthrough that triggered a collapse, reducing Kingsmen to 72 for 5.
Nahid’s impact didn’t end there. He returned later to produce one of the deliveries of the match — a searing 148 kph yorker that shattered Hunain Shah’s stumps, underlining his growing reputation as a genuine pace threat on the big stage.
He finished with impressive figures of 2 for 22 in four overs, including a maiden, applying relentless pressure with both pace and accuracy.
While Aaron Hardie starred with a four-wicket haul, Nahid’s spell stood out for its intensity and timing, breaking the backbone of the innings at crucial moments.
Thanks to a disciplined and aggressive bowling performance led by Rana, Zalmi now head into the chase as clear favourites to lift the title, needing just 130 runs to become champions.
