(Zalmi 166 for 6 in 20 overs)
(Qalandars 149 for 9 in 20 overs)
DUBAI February 24: A sensational collapse which saw Lahore Qalandars lose six wickets for the addition of five runs propelled Peshawar Zalmi to a comfortable 17 run win and a place in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) play-offs.
Set a target of 167, Qalandars plummeted from 38 for no loss to 43 for six in a space of 17 balls as the Zalmi slow bowlers derailed the opponents’ batting line-up in a stunning bowling display.
[fbvideo link="https://www.facebook.com/thePSL/videos/1308234239243227/" width="500" height="400" onlyvideo="1"]
Cameron Delport had hit seven fours in his 15 ball 32 run innings before he was dismissed by Hassan Ali, Mohammad Hafeez and Shakibal Hasan than combined to run through the Qalandars middle-order in a blink of an eye.
Sunil Narine (21), Aamer Yamin (25) Sohail Tanvir (36)* and Yasir Shah (22) saved the team’s blushes and took them closer to the target, however Zalmi were rarely tested after removing the top six.
Man-of-the-match Shakib took two wickets; Hafeez also claimed two while Hassan, Wahab and Shahid Afridi took a wicket each.
[fbvideo link="https://www.facebook.com/thePSL/videos/1307075616025756/" width="500" height="400" onlyvideo="1"]
Zalmi now have seven points from as many games, Qalandars need to beat Karachi Kings in their final match to ensure qualification for the play-offs they are currently on six points from seven games.
Earlier Sammy opted to bat first after winning the toss. Zalmi lost Tamim Iqbal (5) in the second over of the innings, fellow opener Kamran Akmal (58) launched a counterattack and played some delightful shots especially on the off-side to increase the scoring tempo. Kamran was eventually dismissed by Shah; his 40 ball innings included nine fours.
Marlon Samuels who made his Zalmi debut today struggled to get the ball away in his 21 ball 17 run innings, he was bowled by Narine.
Shakibal (30), Afridi (10) and Sammy 17* made valuable contributions as Zalmi posted a competitive 166 run total. Shah with figures of two for 19 from his four overs was the pick of the Qalandars attack.
