‘Karachi Kings ko jitane ka poora mauka diya tha’ – Fans react as Peshawar Zalmi beat Karachi Kings in a high-scoring encounter

Peshawar Zalmi started off their season well as they beat Karachi Kings in a high-scoring encounter by 2 runs in the second match of the 2023 season of Pakistan Super League. Led by Babar Azam, Peshawar posted a total of 199 for 5 in their 20 overs. In reply, Karachi Kings fought till the very end but fell short of the target by 2 runs. 

After being asked to bat first at the National Stadium in Karachi, Peshawar lost the first two wickets early as Mir Hamza scalped the wickets of opener Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub in the second over of the innings. The visitors were reduced to 16 inside two overs. After that, skipper Babar and Tom Kohler-Cadmore took the charge and added 139 runs for the third wicket. 

Babar made 68 runs off 46 deliveries including seven fours and a maximum. Meanwhile, England’s right-hand batter, Cadmore, scored 92 runs off 50 balls. His innings consisted of seven fours and six sixes. Mir Hamza, Andrew Tye, Imran Tahir, and Ben Cutting shared a wicket each for Karachi.

Imad Wasim’s fighting knock went in vain

Chasing a total of 200 runs, Karachi didn’t have a great start as they lost Sharjeel Khan on the very second ball of the innings. He was out for a golden duck after giving the catch to the keeper Haris off Wahab Riaz. Karachi kept losing wickets regularly and they were reduced to 46 for 4 in 6.1 overs. After that, skipper Imad Wasim put up a partnership of  131 runs with Shoaib Malik for the sixth wicket.

Shoaib made a fine fifty scoring 52 off 34 balls with four fours and two sixes. While, on the other side, Wasim remained unbeaten on 80 runs from 47 balls hitting seven fours and four sixes. He took the match to the last over and finished the innings with a maximum. But it was too late for Karachi as they fell short of just 2 runs of Peshawar’s total. Wahab Riaz and James Neesham scalped 2 wickets each for the Zalmis, while Salman Irshad took 1 wicket. Cadmore was awarded Player of the match for his match-defining knock.

Now, let’s have a look at how fans reacted to the win: