Kamran Akmal ton lifts Peshawar Zalmi to PSL final

LAHORE – Peshawar Zalmi defeated Karachi Kings by 24 runs on Friday in the second play-off of the Pakistan Super League and qualified for the final of the second edition of the tournament to be played in Lahore on Sunday.

Kamran Akmal hit a brilliant century helped Zlami to post 181 runs against Karachi Kings.

The opener scored six 4's and seven towering sixes, smashing Kings' bowlers all around the ground. Wicket-keeper batsman also completed 4000 T20 runs during the innings.

For Karachi Kings, Pollard scored 47 while Imad scored 24 runs but could not get their side over the line.

Kings lost the wickets of Babar Azam, Kumar Sangakkara, Shoaib Malik and Ravi Bopara early. Fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Sohail Khan claimed one wicket each for 31 and 32, respectively.

An outstanding end for team Zalmi as they join Quetta Gladiators in the #HBLPSL final. The Zalmi-Gladiators rivalry awaits a glorious end! pic.twitter.com/2RQn30uS4d

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 3, 2017

9.4 SIX! Shahid Afridi to Chris Gayle
watch https://t.co/QgVm6MUOiL#PZvKK #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa pic.twitter.com/hIC4LSq2c7

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 3, 2017

Zalmi continue to make inroads but Kings still have Chris Gayle at the crease, can Gayle deliver something special? #HBLPSL #KKvPZ pic.twitter.com/iqA71tUkwo

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 3, 2017

Marlon Samuels also made 21-ball 36 to finish the innings on 181/3 in 20 overs.

Zalmi have managed to post a huge total of 181 despite losing 3 wickets in the last over! Do the Kings have what it takes to chase that? pic.twitter.com/oADiHd89GQ

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 3, 2017

The winner of this game will be through to the final of the tournament, scheduled to be held at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on March 5.

The match started at 09:00 PM Pakistan time, which corresponds to 08:30 PM Indian time, 05:00 GMT and 08:00 PM according to UAE time.

Where to watch: All matches will air on PTV Sports, Ten Sports and Geo sports. Similarly, cricket enthusiasts of the world can catch live action on MENA – OSN, Africa – Startimes, Bangladesh – Gazi TV, UK – A plus, channel 44, Prime TV, Geo TV, Caribbean – Flow TV, USA – A Plus, Afghanistan – Moby.

Zalmi regroup after an agonising one-run loss against Quetta Gladiators who secured a direct berth in the final of the 2017 PSL edition set to be played in Pakistan, said a press release issued
here on Thursday.



Chasing a target of 201, Peshawar produced a monumental batting performance before imploding in the final over in which they needed seven runs for a historic win in the first playoff on Tuesday.

However, they live to fight another day against Kings who sent defending champions Islamabad United packing from the tournament with a 44-run win as they defended what looked like a below par 126 run first innings score in the second playoff on Wednesday.

Kings will now take on Zalmi in the third and final playoff on today as the action returns to the Dubai International Stadium with the winner facing Quetta Gladiators in the grand final of the HBL PSL set to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.

Karachi Kings Squad

KC Sangakkara*, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, RS Bopara, CH Gayle, Hasan Mohsin, Imad Wasim, DPMD Jayawardene, Kashif Bhatti, Khurram Manzoor, R McLaren, Mohammad Amir, KA Pollard, Rahat Ali, Saifullah Bangash, Shahzaib Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Khan, Usama Mir, Usman Khan

Peshawar Zalmi Squad

DJG Sammy*, TM Dilshan, ADS Fletcher, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imran Khan (1), CJ Jordan, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Hafeez, EJG Morgan, SR Patel, MN Samuels, Shahid Afridi, Shakib Al Hasan, Sohaib Maqsood, Tamim Iqbal, Wahab Riaz.