Zalmi vs Kings, Eliminator 2 at Lahore, Mar 21 2018, Pakistan Super League

RESULT
Eliminator 2 (N), Lahore, March 21, 2018, Pakistan Super League
(16/16 ov) 170/7
(16/16 ov, T:171) 157/2

Zalmi won by 13 runs

Player Of The Match
77 (27)
kamran-akmal
Cricinfo's MVP
143.89 ptsImpact List
kamran-akmal
Match centre 
Comms: Shashank Kishore
Scorecard summary
Peshawar Zalmi 170/7(16 overs)
77 (27)
3/35 (3)
2/23 (3)
Karachi Kings 157/2(16 overs)
79* (46)
1/20 (3)
63 (45)
1/41 (4)
Cricinfo’s Most Valuable Players of the Match
PLAYERTeam
TI
Runs
I. Runs
B. Impact
Bowl
I. Wkts
Bo. Impact
PZ143.8977(27)108.1143.89--0
KK84.1779(46)81.2384.17--0
KK73.56--03/354.2773.56
KK54.74--00/16-54.74
PZ43.7--01/201.4643.7
end of over 1613 runs
KK: 157/2CRR: 9.81 
Colin Ingram5 (3b 1x4)
Joe Denly79 (46b 9x4 4x6)
Wahab Riaz 3-0-36-0
Hasan Ali 4-0-41-1

Over to the final on March 25 then. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Hope to see you for the grand finale. Until then, this is Shashank Kishore and Akshay Gopalakrishnan saying goodbye.

11.30pm No home final for Karachi. Instead, Peshawar Zalmi will have an opportunity to defend their crown on Sunday at the National Stadium. The difference between both sides tonight: Kamran Akmal. Much-maligned in these parts of the world, but the impact he's had on Zalmi can't be understated.

Peshawar Zalmi had to win four games on a trot at one stage to get to the final and they did. Daren Sammy has literally hobbled on one leg for a better part of the last four days to lead them into the final. Can they cap off with the ultimate crowning glory on Sunday?

Time for the presentation:

Kamran Akmal , who smashed a 27-ball 77, PSL's fastest half-century, proved to be the X factor on the night. No surprises than that he's Player of the Match too. He started the tournament poorly, made three ducks along the way but boy, didn't he rev up when it mattered most? He receives the Hanif Mohammed cap from Younis Khan for being the highest run-getter in the tournament at the moment.

Peshawar Zalmi captain Daren Sammy: Akmal's partnership with Fletchee was exceptional. The guys have shown good character. The strength of this team is all of us stick together. Coming here, the support we had from the fans was amazing. Two exciting games, we couldn't have asked for more.

Karachi Kings' stand-in captain Mohammad Amir: Today was Kamran Akmal's day. Whatever he hit connected today. It would've been fun to play the final in Karachi. For now, we'll have to learn from our mistakes.

Kapil: "Hindsight is beautiful but Azam's innings actually lost Karachi the game. He starts off ridiculously slowly and keeping Ingram in hut and sending Azam was the poorest decision by Arthur. Remember they were chasing 171 in 16, not 20 overs. And in PP, overs 2-4, they scored only 12 runs"

faisal : "Champion Vs Champion, Ronchi Vs Kamran, Sami Vs Wahab, Sammy Vs Misbah The Most Suited Final For PSL2018 "

Hamza: "What a final there is going to be it will also be the contest between Kamran vs Ronchi for top scorer and Faheem vs Wahab for leading wickets."

Visakh: "Completely agree with Kapil. Babar faced nearly half of the 96 balls and got 63 runs.. other batsmen needed to get 107 runs off the other half balls left."

Hasan Ali on Zalmi's qualification: I returned to play after a month, it seems like I've found my rhythm back. Today, the way Kamran Akmal played, no praise is enough for him. He's been batting well all tournament. Third PSL in a row that he's contributed.

Soham Sarkhel says: "Having wickets in hand very much overrated in T20s. Karachi Kings failed to match up to the pace. A batsman has to keep taking the occasional risks, resources not fully utilised otherwise."

15.6
4
Wahab Riaz to Ingram, FOUR runs

backs away and slaps this short delivery to the wide long-off fence, but it doesn't matter. Sammy roars, Zalmi fans roar. Karachi had two shots at the final and they've failed in both. PSL 2016 champs v PSL 2017 champs to contest the grand finale in 2018

15.5
1
Wahab Riaz to Denly, 1 run

pulls this short ball on middle to deep square. Game over. Karachi's hopes extinguished.

15.4
4
Wahab Riaz to Denly, FOUR runs

slapped over cover, good strike, clean strike. But this won't do.

15.3
Wahab Riaz to Denly, no run

swing and a miss. Have they nipped this in the bud? Slower bouncer on middle, played too early in trying to pull

Sikendar: "Please someone bring Carlos Brathwaite."

Need a six off each and every delivery now.

15.2
2
Wahab Riaz to Denly, 2 runs

he's sliced this over the infield, bounces away towards the point boundary. Deep cover comes around to cut that off. Wanted to hit over long-off but didn't get power on that slower onr

15.1
1
Wahab Riaz to Ingram, 1 run

drags this from outside off towards long-on, lovely slower delivery

15.1
1nb
Wahab Riaz to Ingram, (no ball)

high full toss that hits him on the stomach. Missed this swing. No-ball, so a free-hit Some drama. Can he cash in?

Can Ingram bat like Dinesh Karthik did the other night?

end of over 1516 runs • 1 wicket
KK: 144/2CRR: 9.60 RRR: 28.00
Joe Denly72 (42b 8x4 4x6)
Colin Ingram0 (0b)
Hasan Ali 4-0-41-1
Chris Jordan 3-0-27-0
14.6
4
Hasan Ali to Denly, FOUR runs

helped to the fine leg fence. Slower and fuller down leg, looked to swing over square leg but this flew off a thick inside edge past short fine

Zeeshan Ahmed: "Please plz plz bring Sreshth on the commentary to make this match a nail bitter" -- Ah, poor guy. He needs a breather. I'm trying my best.

14.5
4
Hasan Ali to Denly, FOUR runs

beats mid-off. Too full, he backed away and hammered it away off the middle of the bat.

14.4
6
Hasan Ali to Denly, SIX runs

clean strike down the ground to beat long-on, who was running around the ropes to get there. This was slower and fuller, he backed away and belted this superbly.

14.3
W
Hasan Ali to Babar Azam, OUT

hoicked straight to deep midwicket. Surely Karachi fans won't be disappointed with that? Hasan Ali will take that into his kitty. Looked to clear his front leg and swing over the ropes, no timing.

Babar Azam c Dawson b Hasan Ali 63 (45b 6x4 2x6) SR: 140

Tinu: "These 2 missed out on the "accelerate" part. It will seem strange losing with 9 wickets in hand."

14.2
1
Hasan Ali to Denly, 1 run

sits up nicely on middle, he pulls but can't get much power behind that. Down to deep midwicket

14.1
1
Hasan Ali to Babar Azam, 1 run

backs away to go over cover, but ends up getting a thick inside edge onto his pad off the knuckle ball

end of over 147 runs
KK: 128/1CRR: 9.14 RRR: 22.00
Babar Azam62 (43b 6x4 2x6)
Joe Denly57 (38b 6x4 3x6)
Chris Jordan 3-0-27-0
Hasan Ali 3-0-25-0
13.6
1
Jordan to Babar Azam, 1 run

no control of this big hit, sliced towards deep cover.

Ahmad: "All they need right now is power hitting, 9 wickets in hand, these singles are of no use." -- The 'get out' stage is long gone. Poor Ingram

13.5
Jordan to Babar Azam, no run

superb yorker, jams his bat down in time to keep that out.

13.4
4
Jordan to Babar Azam, FOUR runs

hammered, deep cover wasn't more than 10 metres away but he couldn't get there. Jordan went for a yorker but missed his mark by very little. Is there life in the game yet?

13.3
1
Jordan to Denly, 1 run

goes over the infield, on the bounce to sweeper cover

13.2
Jordan to Denly, no run

full, straight and outside off. Denly is beaten as he looks to slap this over cover.

13.1
1
Jordan to Babar Azam, 1 run

full toss outside off, carved away to deep point

Here's Chris Jordan

Ezad: "Is there a Mike Hussy in the house?' -- Not sure, but Ajmal surelt isn't.

end of over 1311 runs
KK: 121/1CRR: 9.30 RRR: 17.00
Joe Denly56 (36b 6x4 3x6)
Babar Azam56 (39b 5x4 2x6)
Hasan Ali 3-0-25-0
Umaid Asif 3-0-27-0

Time for a strategy break

12.6
4
Hasan Ali to Denly, FOUR runs

backs away and drills this full delivery to the extra cover fence. Went for the yorker, missed his length by an inch.

Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
JL Denly
79 runs (46)
9 fours4 sixes
Productive shot
cover drive
17 runs
2 fours1 six
Control
42%
Kamran Akmal
77 runs (27)
5 fours8 sixes
Productive shot
slog shot
50 runs
3 fours6 sixes
Control
59%
Best performances - bowlers
RS Bopara
O
3
M
0
R
35
W
3
ECO
11.66
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
1W
1W
1W
TS Mills
O
3
M
0
R
23
W
2
ECO
7.66
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
2W
Match details
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
TossKarachi Kings, elected to field first
Series
Season2017/18
Player Of The Match
Series resultPeshawar Zalmi advanced
Hours of play (local time)19.00 start, First Session 19.00-20-25, Interval 20.25-20-45, Second Session 20.45-22.05
Match days21 March 2018 - night (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Win Probability
PZ 100%
PZKK
100%50%100%PZ InningsKK Innings

Over 16 • KK 157/2

Zalmi won by 13 runs
Powered by Smart Stats
AskESPNcricinfo Logo
Instant answers to T20 questions
Kings Innings
<1 / 3>

Pakistan Super League

TEAMMWLPTNRR
IU1073140.296
KK1054110.028
PZ1055100.464
QG1055100.312
MS10459-0.191
LQ10376-0.931