PSL: Powell cameo key as Zalmi clinch top two spot

KARACHI, Pakistan (CMC):

West Indies T20 skipper Rovman Powell weighed in as Darren Sammy’s Peshawar Zalmi defended a small total to edge Kieron Pollard’s Karachi Kings by two runs in their final group game of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) here yesterday.

Choosing to bat first at the National Stadium, Zalmi stumbled to 147 for six off their 20 overs, the stellar Babar Azam top-scoring with 51 and Powell blasting an 18-ball 30.

In reply, Pollard scored only one as Kings came up short after failing to get four runs from the final ball of the run chase.

New Zealand opener Tim Seifert top-scored with 41 while Irfan Khan struck an unbeaten 39, but Kings had to be content with 145 for five off their 20 overs.

With the win, Zalmi guaranteed themselves of a top-two finish on 13 points, one ahead of Multan Sultans, who are currently second on 12 points with one game left.

Kings, meanwhile, finished one from bottom on eight points following their full complement of group games, yesterday’s defeat marking their sixth of the campaign.

Babar’s fifth 50 of the tournament required 46 balls and included five fours and a six and was the anchor of a 55-run opening stand with Saim Ayub (19).

However, wickets tumbled thereafter, leaving Zalmi on 113 for five in the 17th, and it was left to Powell, who clobbered three fours, to control the back end in a 32-run, sixth- wicket partnership with Aamer Jamal (eight not out).

Seifert then gave Kings a great start, striking eight fours in a 30-ball knock to inspire a 61-run, opening stand with James Vince (21).

Three wickets then went down for seven runs to leave the chase in strife at 68 for three in the 11th over, but Irfan countered in a 49-run, fourth-wicket partnership with Shoaib Malik (22) to haul their side back into the game.

Needing Pollard to fire after Shoaib perished, the former West Indies white-ball captain survived just four balls before holing out to Powell at long on in the penultimate over, and Kings lacked the firepower thereafter to get home.