Karachi edge Peshawar despite Afridi's heroics

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.

Franchise owners reluctant to host PSL final in Lahore

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.

Kevin Pietersen undecided on playing in Lahore

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.

Usama Mir to bowl the final over.



PES 157-8 (19 overs)

17 off the over and a wicket.

Usman Khan to bowl the 19th over.



PES 140-7 (18 overs)

Fifteen runs and a much needed wicket for Karachi.

Sohail Khan to start his final over.



PES 125-6 (17 overs)

Thirteen off the over. A good one for Zalmi.

Mohammad Amir to start his last over.



PES 112-6 (16 overs)

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

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.

Usman Khan to continue.



PES 86-6 (13 overs)

Sixteen off the over. A good one for Zalmi.

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.

Usman Khan to start his new over.



PES 69-5 (11 overs)

Eight off the over.

Usama Mir to continue.



PES 61-5 (10 overs)

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

Usman Khan to start his first over.



PES 57-4 (9 overs)

Ten off the over. A good one Zalmi.

Usama to continue.



PES 47-4 (8 overs)

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

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.

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

Imad to continue.

PES 33-2 (4 overs)

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

Sohail Khan to start his first over.

Sixteen off the over. A great one for Peshawar.

Imad Wasim to continue.

PES 11-0 (2 overs)

Eight off the over.

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.

Wahab Riaz to bowl the final over.

KHI 162-4 (19 overs)

Eleven off the over. A good one Karachi.

Imran Khan to bowl his final over of the day.

KHI 151-4 (18 overs)

Seventeen off the over. A great one for Karachi.

Hasan Ali to start his new over.

KHI 134-4 (17 overs)

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

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)

Imran Khan to start his new over.

KHI 102-3 (14 overs)

Nine off the over. A good one for Karachi.

Afridi to continue.

KHI 93-3 (13 overs)

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

Iftikhar to continue.

KHI 89-2 (12 overs)

Ten off the over. A good one Karachi.

Shahid Afridi to start his new over.

KHI 79-2 (11 overs)

Just four runs and a wicket.

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)

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.

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.

Shakib Al Hasan to start his new over.

KHI 27-0 (3 overs)

Eight runs off the over.

Hasan Ali to continue.

KHI 19-0 (2 overs)

Wahab Riaz to start his first over.

KHI 8-0 (1 over)

Eight off the first over.

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.