By: Muhammad Faheem Anwar
ISLAMABAD: Peshawar Zalmi edged Hyderabad Kingsmen by four wickets off the final ball aided by Iftikhar Ahmed’s match-winning all-round performance while chasing 146 in a pulsating Match of HBL Pakistan Super League 11.
The win lifted Babar Azam’s side to fourth in the standings, while the Kingsmen remain winless in four matches.
Having earlier ripped through the Hyderabad top order with four wickets for 21 runs with the ball, Iftikhar returned with the bat to strike an unbeaten 15 from 10 deliveries, including the decisive boundary and a towering six in the final over, as Peshawar chased down the target.
In pursuit of Hyderabad’s total, Peshawar had cruised to 116 for three in the 14th over with top-scorer Babar (43, 37b, 6x4s) anchoring the innings, but the captain’s departure in the 15th over swung the momentum sharply.
With 23 required from the final four overs, Mohammad Ali (3-0-16-1) returned for a superb 17th over in which he conceded just two runs and accounted for Farhan Yousaf (15, 12b, 2x4s), trapping him leg-before-wicket. The equation had then climbed to 21 from 18 balls and Peshawar’s progress was halted.
Hunain Shah (4-0-32-1) then delivered a miserly 18th over, conceding just two runs and removing Abdul Samad for one, caught behind by Usman Khan.
Ali and Hunain had combined to bowl nine consecutive dot balls at the death and with 19 needed from the final 12, Hyderabad appeared to have the upper hand.
Ali’s penultimate over, a disciplined mix of full and block-hole deliveries, yielded only five runs and left Peshawar needing 14 from Hunain’s final over.
Iftikhar began the over on a strong note striking a boundary to ease the nerves. The pacer came back strongly to squeeze Aamir Jamal (6 not out, 10b) and Iftikhar for two singles afterwards.
With eight required off three, Iftikhar swung the match decisively. Sitting deep in his crease, he picked up Hunain’s full delivery and muscled it straight back over the bowler’s head for a six, all but sealing the win.
A single followed to level the scores and with one needed off the last, Aamir dabbed to point and scampered through as Hunain’s direct-hit attempt at the non-striker’s end sailed past the stumps, with Iftikhar racing in to secure the win.
Earlier in the chase, Mohammad Haris (11, 6b, 1×4, 1×6) launched Ali over the ropes off the very first ball of the innings before falling to Maheesh Theekshana in the following over.
Babar and Kusal Mendis (27, 23b, 1×4, 2x6s) then added 49 for the second wicket, guiding Peshawar to 56 for one at the end of the powerplay, before Mendis miscued a slog sweep in the ninth over.
Babar and Michael Bracewell (25, 19b, 2x4s, 1×6) picked up the tempo in the middle overs until Saim Ayub (4-0-19-2) broke through in the 14th over to dismiss Bracewell for 25, setting up the dramatic finish.
Hyderabad’s innings had earlier been defined by two contrasting phases. Put in to bat, Kingsmen were torn apart by Iftikhar (4-0-21-4), who struck in consecutive overs to reduce the hosts to 34 for four inside the powerplay including a three-wicket over.
Maaz Sadaqat (17, 8b, 3x4s) and Saim Ayub (14, 15b, 2x4s) had made positive starts before falling to the off-spinner, while Usman Khan departed without scoring.
Kusal Perera then led a spirited counter-attack, riding his luck early before finding his range to compile 58, adding 82 for the fifth wicket with captain Marnus Labuschagne (27, 27b, 3x4s).
The partnership threatened to carry Hyderabad to a competitive total, but once it was broken, Sufiyan Moqim triggered a dramatic collapse, finishing with four for 32. He also bagged a three-wicket 17th over as the last five wickets tumbled for nine runs with Hyderabad being skittled for 145 in 18.2 overs.
Scores in brief:
Peshawar Zalmi beat Hyderabad Kingsmen by four wickets at National Bank Stadium, Karachi
Hyderabad Kingsmen 145 all out, 18.2 overs (Kusal Perera 58, Marnus Labuschagne 27; Iftikhar Ahmed 4-21, Sufyan Moqim 4-32)
Peshawar Zalmi 146-6, 20 overs (Babar Azam 43, Kusal Mendis 27, Michael Bracewell 25, Iftikhar Ahmed 15 not out; Saim Ayub 2-19)
