Babar Azam, Mohammad Nabi and Abbas Afridi make it 13 in 13 for the chasing side
Dan Christian sealed Karachi Kings' chase, as Ravi Bopara's 58 for Peshawar Zalmi went in vain
Dan Christian sealed Karachi Kings' chase, as Ravi Bopara's 58 for Peshawar Zalmi went in vain
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: @PeterDellaPenna
5.58 pm So Babar ends the match on 5999 runs! Zalmi though with an appalling fielding performance keeps the door ajar for Kings to complete a chase with three balls to spare to make it 13 consecutive wins by the chasing side to start PSL 2021.
Zalmi stand-in captain Shoaib Malik: "Especially after taking three early wickets, once you give away easy singles and the batsmen gets set, these are batting friendly pitches... we had to get more wickets. That's where these kinds of matches get lost. Of course that was a very crucial catch [Nabi dropped on 20]. We should have gotten that catch but that happens in games. Most importantly, bowling and batting you need a bit of luck. In fielding, hard work pays off and fielding we can improve. In high scoring games, whoever fields well has an edge in close games."
Nabi is named Player of the Match: "It was a really good partnership. The pitches are really good for batting and that's why me and Babar are talking at the crease that it's easy to chase if we need to bat to the end. Depending on the situation, if it's early and we need power-hitting, then I'll power hit. But if we need to rotate the strike, then I'll rotate the strike."
Kings captain Imad Wasim: "The way Babar Azam and Mohammad Nabi played was fantastic to see. You just need to be patient on this surface and if you settle in, you can score a lot of runs. The emerging players are top bowlers. They've got enough variations. The guy who played for Pakistan Under-19 gave us a good start. At the end how Babar finished the game was heartening to see. On these wickets, you have to give something to the bowlers. These are so flat wickets. Today there wasn't any reverse swing as well. Sometimes you have to give credit to the batsmen. But we are on the winning side so we are very happy."
That's it from this match. For Sreshth Shah, I'm Peter Della Penna. Flip over to coverage of Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators starting up shortly. Danyal Rasool is on the call there. Take care!
Babar on 5999 now.
Muhammad Shahza: "Babar Azam is just going to be the second-fastest (164 innings) to 6000 runs in T20 matches after Chris Gayle (162 innings). "
Babar Azam starts the final over on strike. 3 runs to win. 2 runs for him to reach 6000 in T20 cricket.
Zia Abbasi: "Zalmi have dearly missed their captain Wahab Riaz who was lightning quick and tidy with bowl in his last match. "
Dan Christian sealed Karachi Kings' chase, as Ravi Bopara's 58 for Peshawar Zalmi went in vain