Published: Feb 11, 2017, 01:49 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 11, 2017, 01:55 AM (IST)
Eoin Morgan powered Peshawar Zalmi a comfortable win over Karachi Kings by 7 wickets in 3rd Match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017. Morgan remained unbeaten on 80 off 57 deliveries and his innings consisted of 8 cracking boundaries and 3 huge sixes and was awarded Man of the Match for this innings. The Zalmi’s were asked to chase a target of 119, and while doing so, lost opener Mohammad Hafeez (0) and their man-in-form from the previous game Kamran Akmal (0) in a matter of 10 deliveries. The Zalmi’s had found themselves in a tight spot early on due to these quick wickets, but another opener Dawid Malan (22) and No. 3 walked in Morgan steadied the ship to form the base of the victory.
Both Malan and Morgan constructed a 46-run stand for the third wicket which saw them coming out of the tight spot. They both dealt in singles and doubles to get runs on the board without losing any wicket. But amidst this, the required run-rate surged up quickly and hence Malan tried to up the ante and lost his wicket.
By the time, Malan walked back to the dugout, the Zalmi’s had reached a total of 48 for loss of 3. Harris Sohail (13*) walked in at No, 4 and straightaway was asked to play the role of second fiddle to Morgan. Morgan took the aggressor’s role in this partnership and scored runs in a flurry as the asking run-rate was climbing high. Both Morgan and Harris scored an unbeaten knock of 71 runs for the 4th wicket at almost 7.34 runs per over to seal the victory keeping9 balls to spare.
Earlier, winning the toss, Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy asked the Karachi Kings to bat first. The Zalmi’s were rewarded with a wicket from the first over itself. Shahzaib Khan (0), Chris Gayle (2), Babar Azam (1), Karachi Kings newly appointed skipper Kumar Sangakkara (5) departed in no-time. By the time Sangakkara had departed, the Kings had accumulated just 12 runs on the board with 4 wickets down already.
It was Shoaib Malik (44) and Ravi Bopara (33) who played sensible cricket to put their team in some respectable position. Both Malik and Bopara scored 59 runs for the 5th wicket which saw the Kings reaching the 100-run mark. It was Kieron Pollard’s (27*) some powerful hitting in the death stage of the game that ensured the Karachi Kings reached a total of 118.
For the Zalmi’s, Hafeez remained the best bowler as he conceded just 7 runs in his spell of 3 overs and took 2 wickets. Wahab Riaz also took 2 wickets conceding just 23 runs. Apart from these two, Chris Jordan, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Ashgar got one each which helped them to restrict the powerful looking Kings side to a paltry total of 118.
With this win, the Zalmi’s have now registered their first victory in this season of PSL as they lost their first game against former champions Islamabad United, whereas for the Kings, this was their first game in this season of the PSL 2017.
Brief scores:
Karachi Kings 118 for 7 (Shoaib Malik 44, Ravi Bopara 33, Kieron Pollard 27*; Mohammad Hafeez 2 for 7, Wahab Riaz 2 for 23) lost against Peshawar Zalmi 119 for 3 (Dawid Malan 22, Eoin Morgan 80*, Harris Sohail 13*; Mohammad Aamer 1 for 22, Imad Wasim 1 for 13, Sohail Khan 1 for 20) by 7 wickets
Man of the Match: Eoin Morgan
