PSL 9: Pollard’s heroic leads Karachi Kings’ comfortable win over Peshawar Zalmi

Karachi Kings defeated Peshawar Zalmi by seven wickets, chasing a 155-run target in the sixth match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Wednesday.

Karachi’s platinum pick, Kieron Pollard, starred with the bat as he guided the one-time PSL champions to a comfortable win by successfully chasing down the 155-run target.

The batter's powerful blitz posted an unbeaten 49 off 21 balls with the help of four boundaries and as many maximums.

Kings started cautiously as the target wasn’t too big to chase and continued to play with the required run rate in sight.

Opener Mohammad Akhlaq played a quick knock scoring 24 off just 13 balls with three fours and two sixes before he fell prey to Luke Wood in the fifth over.

After Akhlaq’s departure, experienced batter Shoaib Malik came and provided much-needed stability to the team after they were 40-2 in 4.3 overs

Malik scored 29 off 29 before departing for the pavilion, after which James Vince and Pollard finished the job and ensured the Kings’ first win in the PSL 9.

Vince scored 38 off 30 with four boundaries while Pollard amassed 49 runs in 21 balls with eight boundaries.

Wood picked two wickets for the losing side while Waqar Salamkheli got one.

Earlier in the first innings, the Kings’ bowlers caused all kinds of trouble to Zalmi’s batters.

Zalmi were 40-3 in just 5.1 overs but skipper Babar Azam stayed on the crease and took control of his side’s batting. The 29-year-old formed a 68-run partnership with Rovman Powell but the latter departed after contributing 39 runs.

After Powell’s wicket, hard-hitter Asif Ali came to bat and scored 23 off 16 but his quick knock couldn’t take Zalmi to a competitive total as they were all out for 154 runs in 19.5 overs.

Mir Hamza and Hasan Ali bagged three wickets each for the winning side while Daniel Sams got two. Mohammad Nawaz and Shoaib Malik picked one each.