Kamran Strikes 77: Peshawar Beat Karachi To Move Into Final

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Mar, 2018 ) -:Veteran batsman Kamran Akmal stroked quick fired 77 to set up Peshawar Zalmi 13 runs victory against Karachi Kings in the semi final of the Pakistan Super League here on Wednesday night at Gadaffi stadium.

Peshawar will take on Islamabad United in the grand finale of the PSL on March 25 at Karachi. The master blaster wicketkeeper batsman showed his class with a rain of fours and sixes to all parts of the rain hit ground in a match curtailed to 16 overs a side to make up for the time lost in drying the outfield due to todays showers.

Peshawar put into bat by Karachi's captain Mohammad Amir posted massive 170 for 7 in 16 overs before a full house which watched the game whose start was delayed for 75 minutes. Karachi set to get 171 fell short of run chase and were restricted to 157 for 2 in similar overs despite fluent half centuries by JL Denly (79) and Babar Azam (63).

Run machine, Kamran thrilled the audience by cracking the fastest half century of the third edition of PSL off just 17 balls. He gave a flying start to Peshawar by sharing 107 runs for the opening stand along with ADS Fletcher (34 with 3 fours and 2 sixes in 30 balls).

Kamran put the rivals bowling attack at sword with towering sixes and fours amid thunderous applause from the crowd.

Kamran mistimed a shot and was taken at point by Mukhtar off the bowling of Bopara who was the pick of Karachis bowlers and finished with for 3 for 35 in 3 overs.

Kamran slammed eight sixes and five fours in just 27 balls to add to the joy of the crowd with his fire work knock. Peshawar other scorers were captain Darren Sammy (23), LA Dawson and Muhammad Hafeez with 13 runs each.

Medium pacer TS Mills took for 23 and another paceman Usman Khan got one wicket for 48 from Karachi. Karachi had a shaky start with the departure of their opening batsman Mukhtar Ahmad (1) at total of 13.

But the other opener and the top scorer Denly along with Babar produced 130 for the second wicket to keep the run chase intact but the massive total scored by Peshawar proved a hurdle which Karachi's batsmen failed to cross.

At one stage it was looking that Karachi is in right direction to get closer to victory but as soon as the second wicket partnership came to end, their grip on the match loosened. Babar who forced 6 boundaries and 2 sixes off 45 was caught by Dawson off Hasan who claimed one wicket for costly 41 runs in 4 overs.

Denly emerged unbeaten with a sparkling knock which contained 9 hits through the fence and 4 sixes off 46 balls. APP/msa/zqr