PSL 2018: Karachi Kings beat Peshawar Zalmi by five wickets

In Pakistan Super League Karachi Kings beat Peshawar Zalmi by five wickets at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and decided to field on Sunday. They set 132-run target for Karachi Kings to win. Later, Karachi Kings achieved the target with the loss of five wickets in 19th over.

Karachi Kings are on top of PSL 2018 points table after the 7th match. Karachi Kings completed a day of low-scoring runs and comfortable chases with a five-wicket win against Peshawar Zalmi to maintain their perfect record in PSL 2018. It was tighter than it needed to be, the chase completed with only two balls to spare. 

However, the defeat was no less than Peshawar deserved after a feckless first inning in which they were out to poor shots. They were even more indolent with their running: three run-outs meaning they gifted wickets to Karachi who bowled well enough to not require assistance anyway.

An ephemeral cameo from Kamran Akmal at the top aside, Peshawar struggled to score at a good enough run rate, with the crease becoming a revolving door for batsmen to waltz in and out of. Dwayne Smith was the only one to chip in with an innings of any note, responsible for 71 of Peshawar's 131. Karachi's bowlers - particularly Mohammad Amir early on - were magnificent, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.

A late surge had given Peshawar hope of eking out a scrappy win, but Karachi were clinical when they came out. They prioritized keeping wickets in hand, knowing the run rate wasn't going to be an issue. Joe Denly and Babar Azamkept Karachi on course, before Colin Ingram injected some impetus with a 14-ball 23. 

A pair of late wickets and good bowling at the death meant Peshawar made it tight, but Imad Wasim's men were never in real danger of blowing this, with the captain himself smashing the last ball for six to secure the victory.