PSL-8: Cadmore, Babar help Zalmi edge Kings in thriller
Cricket
Imad's blistering 47-ball 80 in vain
KARACHI (Web Desk) – Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s blistering 50-ball 92 and Babar Azam’s brilliant 46-ball 68 helped Peshawar Zalmi edged over Karachi Kings by two runs in the second match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Karachi on Tuesday night.
Chasing a target of 200, Karachi Kings could only manage to score 197-5 in 20 overs. It was skipper Imad Wasim, who remained the standout player for his side. He scored unbeaten brilliant 47-ball 80, studded with seven fours and four sixes.
Shoaib Malik also played an anchoring role to steer the innings of the Kings as he scored 34-ball 52, clobbered four boundaries and two sixes.
With the exception of Malik and Imad, only Matthew Wade (23 off 15) and Haider Ali (12 off 10) moved to the double figures.
James Neesham (2-26) and Wahab Riaz (2-34) bagged two wickets each, while Salman Irshad (1-42) took a wicket.
Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi’s top-order seemed to be confounded as they were two down on 16. But it was the boosting partnership between Tom Kohler-Cadmore and captain Babar Azam that really shifted the pendulum of the match towards the Zalmi.
Cadmore was top-scorer for the “Khapal Team” and scored 50-ball 92, studded with seven fours and six sixes.
Not only, Cadmore was brilliant with his performance, but he also paved way for his skipper Babar to play his natural game. Babar Azam scored 46-ball 68 and clobbered a six and seven fours.
James Neesham and Shakib Al Hasan remained unbeaten on 11-ball 16 and 1-ball 1 respectively.
Mohammad Haris was undone by Mir Hamza on 5-ball 10, while Bhanuka Rajapaksa was outplayed by Ben Cutting on 6-ball 6.
For Karachi Kings, Mir Hamza (1-13), Andrew Tye (1-32), Imran Tahir (1-40) and Ben Cutting (1-29) took a wicket apiece.
KARACHI KINGS
First Over
Seasoned campaigner Wahab Riaz opened the bowling for the Zalmi. He straightaway took a big wicket of blistering batter Sharjeel Khan, who made his way back to the pavilion, without troubling the scorecard. He conceded only six runs.
Second Over
Haider Ali joined Matthew Wade, while Babar Azam introduced Khurram Shahzad to the bowling attack. Matthew Wade launched a big sixer and also smoked a boundary. Shahzad’s over turned out to be costly as he gave away 17 runs.
Third Over
Matthew Wade played two brilliant shots during the second over of Wahab Riaz as the over turned out to be “fruitful” for the Kings as 13 runs were plundered by the batters.
Fourth Over
Skipper Babar Azam brought Neesham to the attack and the change had been worked for the Zalmi. Neesham removed “dangerous” Wade, who scored 15-ball 23. Qasim Akram joined Haider Ali. Qasim straightway scored a boundary. The over turned out to be good overall for the Zalmi as only six runs came from that over.
Fifth Over
Experienced all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan came to bowl in the fifth over and he bowled a brilliant over, conceding only three runs.
Sixth Over
Neesham continued to keep the momentum going for his side by bagging another wicket and sending back Qasim Akram, who scored 10-ball 7. Shoaib Malik joined Haider Ali. Neesham bowled a fine over and gave away only three runs.
Seventh Over
Pressure continued to mount on the Kings as Salman Irshad removed Haider Ali, who scored 10-ball 12. Irshad only scored three runs.
Eighth Over
Khurram Shahzad continued to bowl and Kings skipper Imad Wasim scored a boundary. Shah conceded nine runs.
Ninth Over
Sufiyan Muqeem came to bowl and his over turned out to be costly. He conceded 14 runs.
Tenth Over
Salman Irshad gave away 11 runs in the 10th over.
Eleventh Over
Shakib kept things tight in the eleventh over and gave away only eight runs.
Twelfth Over
In the 12th over, Neesham only conceded six runs.
Thirteen Over
Shoaib Malik badly hammered Shakib for boundaries and the over turned out to be very expensive. Shakib conceded 21 runs.
Fourteenth Over
Wahab Riaz conceded 10 runs, during which Imad Wasim clobbered a six.
Fifteenth Over
Salman Irshad gave away 11 runs.
Sixteenth Over
Khurram Shahzad conceded eight runs and gave away a boundary.
Seventh Over
Malik smashed a six in Neesham’s over. He conceded 11 runs.
Eighteenth Over
The experience of Malik and Imad was too good for Irshad Malik to handle as the over produced 18 runs.
Nineteenth Over
Wahab Riaz’s over turned out to be decisive as he took better of veteran Malik. Malik walked back to the pavilion as he made 34-ball 52. Wahab was exceptional in the death over and conceded only eight runs.
Twentieth Over
Khurram Shahzad bowled the final over for his team and helped Zalmi sweep past the Kings. The over produced 13 runs, but it was too late for Imad XI.
PESHAWAR ZALMI
First Over
For Karachi Kings, Mohammad Amir opened a bowling attack and went on to be costly and gave away 11 runs. Mohammad Haris welcomed with a boundary. Later in that over, Babar Azam smashed a beautiful boundary off the back foot.
Second Over
After hitting a boundary to talented pacer Mir Hamza, Mohammad was perished on 5-ball 10 as Mir Hamza bounced back. Courtesy Mir Hamza’s clinical display with the bowl that newcomer Saim Ayub was run out on 1-ball 1. Mir Hamza finished his successful over by only conceding seven runs.
Third Over
Kings’ skipper Imad Wasim came to bowl the third over and went on to bowl economical over and conceded only three runs. Tom Kohler-Cadmore joined Babar Azam as pressure continues to mount on his team.
Fourth Over
Bagging success in his first over, Mir Hamza continued to bowl and gave away only six runs.
Fifth Over
In the fifth over, Cadmore smashed three sixes in a row against Karachi skipper as Imad conceded 23 runs.
Sixth Over
Amir came to bowl the sixth over and conceded only seven runs.
Seventh Over
Australian Andrew Tye came to bowl the seventh over and was up to the mark till the fifth bowl, but Cadmore spoiled the over by playing a delicate shot. But still, Tye bowled a decent over and gave away six runs.
Eighth Over
Imad Wasim handed over the responsibility to Imran Tahir, but it was Cadmore, who welcomed the 43-year-old with great zeal and clobbered a four and a sixer. Tahir conceded 13 in his first over.
Ninth Over
Andrew Tye gave away five runs by changing his variations.
Tenth Over
Another Australian Ben Cutting came to bowl and conceded eight runs. In this over, Cadmore scored a boundary through midwicket.
Eleventh Over
Tahir bowled a juicy full toss and conceded a sixer from Cadmore as he completed his fiery 50. Tahir gave away 13 runs.
Twelfth Over
Ben Cutting continued to bowl, but nothing was going in Kings’ favour. Both Babar and Cadmore plundered a boundary each. Cutting conceded 13 in the over.
Thirteen Over
Tahir continued the proceedings for the Kings and bowled a much better over by conceding only seven runs.
Fourteenth Over
Cadmore was unstoppable and smashed a sixer. Skipper Imad went on to be costly and conceded 16 runs.
Fifteenth Over
After completing his fifty, Babar Azam also decided to smash the Zalmi’s bowlers down the ground. Tye conceded 16 runs. Babar scored two classy boundaries and hammered a six over long-on.
Sixteenth Over
Tahir bowled Babar Azam finally and conceded seven runs as new batter Rajapaksa joined Cadmore.
Seventeenth Over
After removing Babar Azam, Imad Wasim brought back his key bowler Mohammad Amir to the attack and he gave away nine runs. Despite losing his skipper, Cadmore plundered a boundary by beating a third man fielder.
Eighteenth Over
Continuing to bowl, Andrew Tye sent back Rajapaksa, who scored merely 6-ball 6. Tye only conceded five runs in a successful over. New Zealand’s Neesham joined Cadmore.
Nineteenth Over
Neesham nudged away the first ball to a boundary as Amir bowled a poor delivery. On the other side, Cadmore was unstoppable and sliced away a boundary. The over turned out to be costly for the Kings as Amir conceded 15 runs.
Twentieth Over
Imad brought Cutting to the attack for the last over and this move was worked for the Kings as Cadmore was removed after he played a blistering knock, scoring 50-ball 92. Cutting bowled a brilliant final over and only gave away eight runs.
For Peshawar Zalmi, there was a change in leadership as Babar Azam took the captaincy of one of the giants of the tournament.
On the other side, Imad Wasim was once again captaining the Karachi Kings..
Karachi Kings: Sharjeel Khan, Matthew Wade (wk), Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Qasim Akram, Ben Cutting, Imad Wasim (c), Andrew Tye, Imran Tahir, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir.
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, James Neesham, Shakib Al Hasan, Wahab Riaz, Khurram Shahzad, Sufiyan Muqeem, Salman Irshad.
— Peshawar Zalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) February 14, 2023
— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) February 14, 2023
