Karachi edge Peshawar despite Afridi's heroics

Zalmi were bowled out for 165 in chase of 175 on the second last ball of the match

Young leg-spinner Usama Mir kept his cool in the final over as Karachi Kings beat Peshawar Zalmi by nine runs in a thrilling contest at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a stiff target of 175 to win the match, Zalmi was in all sorts of trouble after losing six wickets for just 69 runs in the 12^th over.

However, a 70-run seventh wicket partnership between captain Darren Sammy and veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi kept Peshawar alive in the match.

But flurry of wickets in the last 13 balls sealed a much needed win for Kumar Sangakara’s men, who are now placed fourth in the league table on better run rate than fifth-placed Lahore Qalandars.

Afridi finished the innings with the top score of 54 off just 28 balls with the help of three fours and five massive sixes, whereas Sammy scored 34 off 26 balls, which included one four and three sixes.

For Karachi, pacers Sohail Khan and Usman Khan Shinwari claimed three wickets each.

Earlier, after being sent in to bat first, Kings scored 174 runs for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 20 overs, courtesy brilliant batting from veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik.

Malik scored an unbeaten 51 off just 27 balls with the help of four fours and three massive sixes. He was well supported by Ravi Bopara, who scored 30 off 20 balls.

For Peshawar, part-time off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed claimed two wickets.

For his outstanding all-round performance, Malik was awarded man of the match.

Shoaib Malik (Man of the match): I had in mind that I have to take my chances because you need more than 170 against such a strong batting lineup. I took my time, and once I was settled, the ball was coming on to the bat really nicely.

Darren Sammy: I think they scored 10 runs too many from the position they were in. Credit to Shahid for keeping us in the game. You always try to take the game as deep as possible. Until the last over, we believed that we can do it, but it wasn’t to be.

Kumar Sangakara: It was probably the only choice I had of bringing in Usama Mir in the final over, and he put his hand up and delivered. We got a good start, but what an outstanding innings from Shoaib Malik. All credit to Usama, Sohail Khan, who needs to bowl a bit better in the last part of the game.



PES 165 (20 overs)

OUT! And that's it. Karachi Kings win another thriller, this time by nine runs.

OUT! @iamusamamir has done it for @KarachiKingsARY . @SAfridiOfficial departs after a stunning 54.https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Usama Mir to bowl the final over.



PES 157-8 (19 overs)

17 off the over and a wicket.

FOUR! Brilliant from young Hasan Ali as @PeshawarZalmi now need 18 off six ballshttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

NO BALL AND A SIX! What a mistake from young Shiwari. https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

OUT! Usman Shinwari get another wicket, as @WahabViki departs after scoring just two. https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Usman Khan to bowl the 19th over.



PES 140-7 (18 overs)

Fifteen runs and a much needed wicket for Karachi.

OUT! A much needed wicket for @KarachiKingsARY as captain @darrensammy88 departs. PES 139-7https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

SIX! @darrensammy88 hits one out of the ground for another maximumhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

SIX! Another one from @SAfridiOfficial . He is one fire. https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Sohail Khan to start his final over.



PES 125-6 (17 overs)

Thirteen off the over. A good one for Zalmi.

SIX! This time it's @darrensammy88 who hits one out of the park over deep square leg boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Mohammad Amir to start his last over.



PES 112-6 (16 overs)

Eight off the over. Another good one from Sohail Khan.

SIX! Length ball and @SAfridiOfficial hits a maximum over deep mid-wicket boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Sohail Khan to start his new over.



PES 104-6 (15 overs)

Eight off the over. A good one for Karachi.

Mohammad Amir to continue.



PES 96-6 (14 overs)

Ten off the over. Another good one for Zalmi.

FOUR! First four for @SAfridiOfficial as hits one over mid offhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Usman Khan to continue.



PES 86-6 (13 overs)

Sixteen off the over. A good one for Zalmi.

SIX! Slow ball and @SAfridiOfficial strikes one over extra cover for another six.https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

SIX! BOOM BOOM @SAfridiOfficial strikes a massive six over deep cover https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Mohammad Amir to start his second over of the day.



PES 70-6 (12 overs)

Just one run and a wicket off the over. Brilliant bowling from young Usman.

OUT! Usman Khan claims another big wicket, this time of @Sah75official . PES 69-6 (11.2 ov)https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Usman Khan to start his new over.



PES 69-5 (11 overs)

Eight off the over.

SIX! Flighted and @darrensammy88 strikes one out of the park over long off for a maximumhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Usama Mir to continue.



PES 61-5 (10 overs)

Just four runs and a wicket off the over. Great start from Usman.

OUT! Usman Khan gets a big wicket of @sohaibcricketer , who departs after scoring five. PES 58-5https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Usman Khan to start his first over.



PES 57-4 (9 overs)

Ten off the over. A good one Zalmi.

FOUR! @sohaibcricketer hits one through deep cover region to get his first boundary of the dayhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Usama to continue.



PES 47-4 (8 overs)

Just six runs and a wicket off the over. Great start from the veteran all-rounder.

OUT! @realshoaibmalik great day continues as he picks up a crucial wicket of @Eoin16. PES 42-4 https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Shoaib Malik to start his first over.



PES 41-3 (7 overs)

Just two off the Mir's first over. Good start from the youngster.

Usama Mir to start his first over.



PES 39-3 (6 overs)

A maiden from Sohail Khan. Brilliant bowling.

Sohail Khan to start his second over.
PES 39-3 (5 overs)

Just six runs and a wicket off the over. A good one for Karachi.

OUT! @simadwasim gets his first wicket of the day. Iftikhar departs after scoring just one. PES 33-3https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Imad to continue.



PES 33-2 (4 overs)

Just six runs and two wicket off the over. A great one Karachi.

OUT! @ravibopara takes a good catch as @KamiAkmal23 departs after scoring 14https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

FOUR! @TamimOfficial28 comes down the track and hits another boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Sohail Khan to start his first over.

PES 27-0 (3 overs)

Sixteen off the over. A great one for Peshawar.

SIX! @KamiAkmal23 hits one out of the park over long off for a maximumhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

FOUR! @KamiAkmal23 sweeps one through deep square leg to get his first boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

FOUR! Another boundary for @TamimOfficial28 https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Imad Wasim to continue.



PES 11-0 (2 overs)

Eight off the over.

FOUR! @TamimOfficial28 guides one through the slip region for a boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Mohammad Amir to start his first over.



PES 3-0 (1 over)

Just three off the over. A good start for Karachi.

So it's Kamran Akmal and Tamim Iqbal to open for Zalmi, whereas Imad Wasim to start for Karachi Kings.



So that's it every one. We will join you again in the second innings.



KHI 174-4 (20 overs)

Twelve off the over. A good one for Karachi.

FOUR! And the last ball boundary completes Shoaib Malik's half-century. Brilliant knock.

SIX! Another from @realshoaibmalik . He is just unstoppable tonight. https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Wahab Riaz to bowl the final over.



KHI 162-4 (19 overs)

Eleven off the over. A good one Karachi.

SIX! @realshoaibmalik is one fire. Another six, this time over deep mid-wicket for a maximumhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Imran Khan to bowl his final over of the day.



KHI 151-4 (18 overs)

Seventeen off the over. A great one for Karachi.

SIX! Slow ball and @realshoaibmalik hits one straight down the ground for a maximumhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

FOUR! This time full and @realshoaibmalik hits one over extra cover for another boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

FOUR! Short, wide and @realshoaibmalik cuts one for a boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Hasan Ali to start his new over.



KHI 134-4 (17 overs)

Fifteen and a wicket off the over. A good one for Karachi.

OUT! @ravibopara departs after scoring 30 off 20 ballshttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

SIX! Another maximum from @ravibopara , this time over long on https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

SIX! @ravibopara hits a much needed six for @KarachiKingsARY https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Imran Khan to start his new over.



KHI 119-3 (16 overs)

Ten off the over. A good one for Karachi.

FOUR! On the pads, and Bopara guides it for a boundary.

Wahab Riaz to start new over.



KHI 109-3 (15 overs)

FOUR! A lucky boundary for @ravibopara https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Imran Khan to start his new over.



KHI 102-3 (14 overs)

Nine off the over. A good one for Karachi.

FOUR! Pure class from @realshoaibmalik as he guides one between gully and third man for a boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Afridi to continue.



KHI 93-3 (13 overs)

Four runs and a wicket. Another good over from Iftikhar.

OUT! @henrygayle departs after scoring 11 off eight balls. @KarachiKingsARY are in troublehttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Iftikhar to continue.



KHI 89-2 (12 overs)

Ten off the over. A good one Karachi.

SIX! @henrygayle hits his first six of the @thePSLt20 2017.https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Shahid Afridi to start his new over.



KHI 79-2 (11 overs)

Just four runs and a wicket.

OUT! @KumarSanga2 departs after scoring 28 off 22. Another big wicket for @PeshawarZalmi.https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Iftikhar Ahmed to start his first over.



KHI 75-1 (10 overs)

Just three off the over.

Shahid Afridi to continue.



KHI 72-1 (9 overs)

OUT! @Sah75official gets a big one as @babarazam258 departs after scoring 46 off 38. KHI 72-1 (9 ov)https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Shakib to start his new over.



KHI 67-0 (8 overs)

Just four off the over. A good one for Zalmi.

Shahid Afridi to start his first over.



KHI 63-0 (7 overs)

16 off the over, a real poor start for the Zalmi captain.

FOUR! This time @KumarSanga2 guides one between through slip region for third consecutive boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

FOUR! Captain @KumarSanga2 hits two consecutive boundaries on bowling of @darrensammy88 https://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Darren Sammy to start his new over.



KHI 47-0 (6 overs)

Just two off the over.

Wahab Riaz to start his new over.



KHI 45-0 (5 overs)

Nine off the over. Another good one for Karachi.

Imran Khan Jr. to start his first over.



KHI 36-0 (4 overs)

Nine off the over. A good one for Karachi.

FOUR! Short and @babarazam258 pulls one towards cow corner boundary for another boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Shakib Al Hasan to start his new over.



KHI 27-0 (3 overs)

Eight runs off the over.

FOUR Another boundary for @babarazam258 due to poor fielding from Iftikhar Ahmedhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Hasan Ali to continue.



KHI 19-0 (2 overs)

SIX! @babarazam258 hits first six of the nighthttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

FOUR! @babarazam258 strikes one down the ground for another boundaryhttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

Wahab Riaz to start his first over.



KHI 8-0 (1 over)

Eight off the first over.

FOURx2! @babarazam258 gets consecutive boundary of the first two balls of the inningshttps://t.co/u3UvK1DZ8Q #PSL2017 #KKvPZ

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 19, 2017

So today Karachi Kings will try a new opening stand between Babar Azam and Kumar Sangakara, whereas Hasan Ali will begin for Peshawar Zalmi.



TOSS: The news is that Peshawar Zalmi have won the toss and opted to bowl first against Karachi Kings.