Match Center

Right then! That is all we have from this game. The action in the Pakistan Super League continues on the 5th of February with a double-header on Super Saturday. The first match of the day will be played between Islamabad and Lahore. That match starts at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT) but the build-up will begin much sooner. Do join us then. Cheers!

Wahab Riaz, the skipper of Peshawar Zalmi says that the teams that are winning are putting the runs on the board since the last 3-4 matches. Tells that however, there is always a chance. Informs that it is not easy to bat second as the wicket gets slow and the ball does not come on nicely. Tells that the side adapted to the conditions well. Credits Salman for coming back strongly and also credits Umar for his amazing bowling. Says, that will give them a lot of confidence moving forward.

Karachi Kings captain, Babar Azam  says that the pitch was quite slow and they gave away more runs than they would have liked. In the middle overs, they were loose in the field and with the batting, they just did not have better partnerships. He adds that it was difficult even for a set batter and it wasn't easy hitting the slower balls. He ends by saying that they can only go up from here and will look to bounce back stronger.

Shoaib Malik wins the Player of the Match for his unbeaten knock of 52* off just 28 balls and for also taking the important wicket of Sharjeel Khan. He says that he bowled only one over as everyone knows how dangerous is Sharjeel so Wahab asked him to bowl the first over because if one doesn't get him out, one is not in the game. Tells that in T20, the strike rate has to be above 140. Adds that they got a good start and they had to read the conditions and adapt quickly.

The Presentation Ceremony...

Mohammad Umar is up for a quick chat. He thanks almighty for his good bowling performance. He says that he was very supported by his captain and his coach and is happy that he bowled well. Mentions that they told him to go with the slower ones. On asked about Hardik Pandya being his favorite cricketer, he says that he aims to become the number 1 all-rounder in the world and not just in Pakistan. On asked about the wicket-taking delivery to Aamer Yamin, he says that he practiced those leg-cutters in the net and it worked very well for him.

After a good batting effort, the bowlers have managed to restrict the opponents and Peshawar Zalmi now have their second win of the campaign. Shoaib Malik had a brilliant match tonight, as, after his blistering batting display, he got his team a dream start as he got the wicket of the dangerous Sharjeel for a golden duck. He took a couple of important catches as well. The pacers then kept on the pressure but Cockbain and Babar did trouble them. It was Mohammad Umar who bowled fantastically in the middle period and picked up 3 important wickets as well. He was really well supported by Salman Irshad who too was miserly and picked up one wicket. With the game almost in the bag, Wahab and Talat did get hit in the final two overs but Peshawar looked to be in control of the match throughout.

Karachi Kings just can't get through a whole match having a decent outing with both the bat and the ball. They got off to a disastrous start as Sharjeel Khan the man in form got out for a golden duck and then Farhan too fell without scoring. Babar Azam looked really edgy at the start but managed to hit his way through and Cockbain supported him well. After Cockbain fell, Nabi couldn't get going but Yamin did hit a few lusty blows to get Karachi back into the match. In the end, there was too much left to do for Babar alone in the final 2-3 overs. He did hit quite a few boundaries at the death but it all went in vain.

Make that five victories in a row for the side batting first! Well, both teams were desperate for a win tonight but it was Peshawar Zalmi who showed more urgency in the field when it mattered and have managed to snatch their second win of the campaign. Despite the skipper's valiant knock of 90, Karachi Kings now slump to a fourth defeat in a row and have some serious ground to make up on the teams above them.

FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries! It won't matter but kudos to Babar Azam for showing a fighting spirit. He has played a very good knock for his side. Back of a length, outside off. Babar Azam makes room and upper-cuts it to deep backward point for a boundary. PESHAWAR ZALMI WIN BY 9 RUNS!

FOUR! Two in a row but it does not matter! Slower ball, on middle. Babar Azam swivel-pulls it to deep square leg for a boundary.

FOUR! Nicely played by Azam! Length ball, on off. Babar Azam waits for the ball to come and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Slower ball, short of a length, outside off. Lewis Gregory swings across the line but misses. The batters take a bye.

FOUR! Good strike! Length ball, outside off. Lewis Gregory stands tall and slashes it to wide of sweeper cover for a boundary. 24 needed from 4 balls.

WIDE! Length ball, way too outside off. Lewis Gregory leaves it alone. Wided.

Short ball, on middle. Babar Azam pulls it to long off. He calls for two but settles for a single.

Hussain Talat (3-0-25-1) to bowl the final over of the match.

Retains the strike! Short ball, slower one, on middle. Babar Azam pulls it to deep square leg for a single. 29 runs needed from 6 balls.