KARACHI – Peshawar Zalmi beat Karachi Kings by nine runs in match number 11 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday.
This is the fourth match Karachi Kings have lost in a row in this season of the PSL.
Chasing the 174-run target, Karachi Kings could score only 164 runs at the loss of 6 wickets. Karachi Kings batsmen Babar Azam made 90 runs off 63 balls, Ian Cockbain 31 off 19 balls and Aamer Yamin 20 off 15 balls.
Peshawar Zalmi bowlers Mohammad Umar took 3 wickets for 22 runs, Shoaib Malik 1 wicket for 2 runs and Usman Qadir 1 for 29 runs.
Earlier, the Wahab Riaz-led side was put to bat first after Babar Azam won the toss and elected to field first.
Zalmi players took a strong start with Hazratullah Zazai and Kamran Akmal on the crease as an opening pair. However, Zazai’s removal in the sixth over, slowed down the run rate.
Shoaib Malik’s powerful innings of 52 runs off 28 helped the team to post a fighting total for the Kings.
Malik saaabbbb#HBLPSL7 l #LevelHai l #KKvPZ pic.twitter.com/TqFlae92kE
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2022
Kings will be under extreme pressure following three consecutive losses, and a huge blow after Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Ilyas have been ruled out of the ongoing PSL due to injuries.
Mohammad Amir, who was nursing a side strain for the past week or so, has aggravated his back injury during rehabilitation and will no longer be available to participate in the remainder of the PSL 7, a statement from the franchise said on Thursday.
Following a seven-wicket defeat to Multan Sultans in their opener, the Kings were thrashed by Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets and beaten by Lahore Qalandars by six wickets.
The Kings’ players have been working out hard on the practise field and in the gym over the last few days.
Meanwhile, Zalmi will continue to strive for improvement. Not only do Zalmi need to improve their fielding, but they are also falling short of expectations in both batting and bowling.
After defeating Quetta Gladiators by five wickets in their opener, Islamabad United defeated Zalmi by nine wickets and Lahore Qalandars by 29 runs. Yes, they have reintroduced their opening duo of Kamran Akmal and Hazratullah Zazai following their recovery from COVID.
Hussain Talat looked a little out of form against Lahore, but he is a superb all-rounder who has already delivered an outstanding knock in this tournament. Haider Ali also demonstrated his form on Wednesday, with some fine strokes before falling on 49.
Aleem Dar and Shozab Raza will be in charge of the match’s supervision, while Iftikhar Ahmed will be the match referee.
Major setback to Karachi Kings as Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Ilyas ruled out of PSL 7
