Shakib’s Peshawar start PSL campaign with a nervy 2-run win

GBNEWS24DESK//

Peshawar Zalmi narrowly beat Karachi Kings by two runs to kickstart their Pakistan Super League (PSL) campaign on the right note on Tuesday.

The T20 run-fest at Karachi’s National Stadium went down to the wire after Karachi’s Shoaib Malik (52) and Imad Wasim (80 not out) staged a tremendous comeback while chasing 200 from a precarious 46 for four in the seventh over.

Needing to defend 24 off 12 deliveries, Wahab Riaz bowled a decisive penultimate over in which the experienced pacer removed Malik and conceded only eight runs.

The following over saw off-spinner Khurram Shahzad hold his nerves and even though the final delivery had gone for a six, Peshawar — who recently acquired the service of the Bangladesh superstar Shakib Al Hasan in the supplementary player category till February 26 — had the game wrapped up by then as they needed to defend nine runs to avoid defeat.

Shakib had a mixed bag with the ball. The ace all-rounder remained economical in his first two overs but went for a beating in his third and final over of the night, ending up conceding 32 runs in total.

Alongside Riaz, New Zealand’s James Nisham stood out with the ball for Peshawar with two scalps and low economy-rate.

Earlier, Babar Azam (68) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (92) of England starred in a 139-run stand for the third wicket and led their side to a formidable 199-run total.

Shakib, who flew to Pakistan right after his Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) side Fortune Barishal got knocked in the Eliminator on Monday, had the chance to face one delivery in the 20th over after player-of-the-match Kohler-Cadmore’s blistering knock, laced with six maximums and a seven boundaries, came to an end.