The Peshawar Zalmi claimed a @L0$ over the Karachi Kings on Thursday (April 9). Powered by a century from Kusal Mendis and an unbeaten 87 from captain Babar Azam, the Zalmi posted 246/3 before skittling the opposition out for just 87. The win took them to second place on the points table.
Opting to bowl, the Kings started well by removing Mohammad Haris in the first over. But that was where the positives ended as the Zalmi's onslaught began. They raced to 102/1 by the halfway stage with runs flowing from both ends. Mendis reached his century in the 16th over and fell in the next. The Kings also managed to dismiss Michael Bracewell cheaply but that brought Abdul Samad to the crease. He blasted a 12-ball 40, with four sixes and three fours, in the last two overs.
In pursuit, the Kings stumbled early and were reduced to 8/3 with Iftikhar Ahmed providing two early breakthroughs. The slide continued and there were no hopes of recovery as they went to 65/6 by the 11th over and to 87 all-out in the 17th. All of Iftikhar, Nahid Rana and Sufiyan Muqeem bagged three wickets each while Shoriful Islam accounted for one. The fact that Azam Khan was the Kings' top scorer with 25 off 27 was telling of their struggles.
@B0$: Peshawar Zalmi 246/3 in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 109, Babar Azam 87*; Abbas Afridi 2-55) beat Karachi Kings 87 all out in 16.1 overs (Azam Khan 25; Nahid Rana 3-7, Iftikhar Ahmed 3-9, Sufiyan Muqeem 3-18) by 159 runs.
