LAHORE, Pakistan, CMC – An explosive knock from former West Indies white-ball skipper Kieron Pollard fired Karachi Kings to a comfortable seven-wicket win over the Darren Sammy-coached Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League here Wednesday.
Chasing 155 to win at Gaddafi Stadium, the Kings were inspired by Pollard’s 21-ball unbeaten 49, which included four fours and four sixes.
The veteran ball-striker dominated a 66-run, unbroken seventh wicket stand with James Vince, whose 38 came from 30 deliveries, with three fours and a six.
Sent in earlier, Zalmi was bowled out for 154 in the final over, with the outstanding Babar Azam top-scoring with 72 off 51 deliveries and West Indies Twenty20 captain Rovan Powell chipping in with 39 off 25 balls.
Zalmi lost Saim Ayub to the first ball of the innings as they slumped to 40 for three in the sixth over, but Babar pulled things around in a 68-run, fourth-wicket partnership with Powell.
Babar belted seven fours and a six, while Powell struck three fours and two sixes before bungling a reverse sweep and skying a simple catch to short third man in the 13th over.
However, seamers Mir Hamza (3-28) and Hasan Ali (3-30) shredded the lower order as Zalmi lost their last six wickets for 18 runs.
In reply, the game was still open with Kings on 40 for two in the fifth over, but Vince pushed the contest firmly in their favor, first in a 51-run, third wicket stand with Shoaib Malik (29) and then in combination with Pollard.
Kings’ win was their first of the competition, while Zalmi is winless in two.
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