Kamran steers Zalmi to facile win over Gladiators; Qalandars triumph
KARACHI: Kamran Akmal’s blistering 55-ball 101 secured Peshawar Zalmi a six-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators in the fourth match of the HBL PSL 2020 at Karachi’s National Stadium.
The wicketkeeper-batsman began Zalmi’s runchase in style, hitting two sixes and two fours off Mohammad Nawaz in the first over on his way to his third century in the HBL PSL.
Kamran, who is the leading run-scorer in the HBL PSL with 1,430 runs in 49 matches, struck 13 fours and four sixes to help Zalmi chase down the 149-run target with nine balls spare on a day when the pc bob served childhood cancer awareness day.
Haider Ali, Pakistan U19 opener, scored 25 off 28 in an 82-run partnership for the second-wicket with Kamran.
Earlier, Gladiators, at the back of Jason Roy’s unbeaten 73, made 148 for five after being asked to field first. The English opener struck six fours and a six in 57 balls and crafted a 62-run stand for the third-wicket with Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who struck five fours and a six in his 41 off 25 balls. Wahab Riaz took two wickets for 21 runs in four overs, while Rahat Ali and Amir Khan and Darren Sammy picked up a wicket each.
For his extraordinary batting performance which gave Zalmi their first win of the season, Kamran was named player of the match.
Peshawar Zalmi take on Multan Sultans in what will be first HBL PSL match in Multan on Wednesday, while Quetta Gladiators play Karachi Kings tomorrow afternoon at National Stadium, Karachi.
Meanwhile, , Multan Sultans defeated Lahore Qalandars by five wickets in the third match of the ongoing HBL PSL 2020 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Sultans, led by Shan Masood, chased down the 139-run target in 16.1 overs. Opening the batting, Shan top-scored with 38 off 29 balls, with four fours and a six, in the run chase.
In the middle order, Rilee Rossouw made 32 off 28 and Shahid Afridi scored a quickfire 12-ball 21. Both batsmen struck two fours and a six each.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars scored 138 runs for the loss of eight wickets after they were asked to bat.
The opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Chris Lynn provided Qalandars a solid start with a 59run stand in 5.2 overs. Lynn, who hit four fours and three sixes, anchored the partnership by scoring 39 from 19 balls, while Fakhar made 19 off 14.
As Qalandars looked to have gained the momentum, Moeen Ali’s double-blow in the last Powerplay over turned the innings on its head as the off-spinner accounted for the wickets of both openers. The wickets sparked a collapse as Qalandars lost their next four wickets for 44 runs. Qalandars captain, Sohail Akhtar, staged a recovery to take his side to a decent score. The right-handed batsman made 34 off 30 balls and struck three sixes and a four during his stay at the crease.