Peshawar Zalmi did the unthinkable as they were just one step away to make to the final of the Pakistan Super League Season Six after they outclassed defending champions Karachi Kings by five wickets in the first Eliminator in Abu Dhabi on Monday night.

Karachi Kings were now a history, while Peshawar Zalmi will vie for a spot in the PSL final with Islamabad United on Tuesday (today). The winner of that game faces Multan Sultans in the final on Thursday.

Hazratullah Zazai’s superb innings was the highlight as Peshawar Zalmi outshined Karachi Kings and kicked them out of the PSL 2021 edition. 

After invited to bat first, Karachi Kings posted a competitive total of 175 for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Babar Azam finished the innings with the top score of 53 off 45 balls with the help of six fours. He was ably supported by Thisara Perera who scored a brisk 37 off just 18 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes.

For Peshawar Zalmi, captain Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan and Umaid Asif claimed two wickets each.

In their reply, Peshawar Zalmi were off to a brisk start, courtesy sublime batting from Hazratullah Zazai. The left-hander played a handsome knock and finished the match with the top score of 77 runs off just 38 balls with the help of 10 fours and five sixes.

After his departure, fourth-wicket partnership of 52 between Shoaib Malik and Khalid Usman settled nerves for Peshawar Zalmi and eventually helped the team in surpassing the Karachi Kings score by losing just five wickets.

Brief Scores

KARACHI KINGS 175-7 in 20 overs (Babar Azam 53, N.L.T.C. Perera 37, Sharjeel Khan 26, Imad Wasim 16, Danish Aziz 13; Mohammad Irfan 2-21, Wahab Riaz 2-29, Umaid Asif 2-37, Mohammad Imran 1-37);

PESHAWAR ZALMI 176-5 in 19.5 overs (Hazratullah Zazai 77, Shoaib Malik 30, S.E. Rutherford 17 not out, Khalid Usman 17, Kamran Akmal 13, Imam-ul-Haq 11; N.L.T.C. Perera 2-10, Mohammad Ilyas 1-30, Mohammad Amir 1-37, Noor Ahmed 1-41).

Tuesday’s fixture: Eliminator 2 — Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi (9:00pm PST).