ISLAMABAD: After a struggling start and losing early wickets of star players like Babar Azam and Saim Ayub, Peshawar Zalmi managed to cross 200 runs mark and set a competitive total of 227 runs for Multan Sultans to chase in 20 overs.
Peshawar Zalmi wrapped up their innings with 11 runs off the final over, despite losing the dangerous Abdul Samad for a blistering 40 off 14 balls.
Ubaid Shah struck at the right time with a slower ball that Samad mistimed to deep mid-wicket.
Mitchell Owen took the attack to David Willey, launching two towering sixes – one a straight hit measuring 86 metres, the other lofted over long-off.
He added a couple more runs with a mistimed heave, but Willey had the final say.
Taking the pace off, the England pacer induced a mistimed slog, which went sky-high and was safely pouched by Rizwan.
Abdul Samad caused absolute carnage in the 18th over, smashing Akif Javed for 24 runs.
View this post on Instagram
After Owen nudged a single, Samad seized control – belting back-to-back sixes, the first straight down the ground and the second muscled over mid-wicket.
He then carved a four through the leg side and managed a couple more thanks to a fielding fumble.
Hussain Talat’s handy knock of 37 from 29 deliveries came to an end as he was caught by Akif Javed off Iftikhar Ahmed.
Attempting to clear extra cover, Talat only succeeded in picking out Javed on the second grab.
Cadmore’s innings
Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s fluent innings was halted after a superb catch by David Willey at long-off.
Michael Bracewell tempted him with a wide delivery, and the batter could only sky it, ending a fine innings of 52 from 30 balls.
HALF-CENTURY! Kohler-Cadmore reached his fifty with a crisp drive to deep cover, continuing his excellent form.
Hussain Talat supported well, chipping in with vital runs, including a boundary driven off a full delivery from Usama Mir.
Mohammad Haris’s explosive knock of 45 from just 21 balls was cut short by Ubaid Shah.
A clever slower short ball deceived Haris, whose mistimed pull found Iftikhar Ahmed in the deep. Zalmi lost their third just as they looked set to explode.
View this post on Instagram
Earlier, Kohler-Cadmore matched Haris stroke for stroke in Usama Mir’s first over, smashing two hefty sixes over mid-wicket to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Haris played with intelligence, rotating the strike and racing into the 40s, as Zalmi surged to 84 inside seven overs.
Haris’ charge
A brutal fourth over saw Kohler-Cadmore and Haris take control – the former clouting two monstrous sixes, including a superb shot over long-on, while Haris added to the assault with a powerful pull for six.
But Zalmi’s top order had stuttered earlier. Saim Ayub fell to Bracewell, before David Willey delivered a peach to trap Babar Azam lbw with a sharp in-seamer.
Babar reviewed, but UltraEdge showed no bat and ball-tracking confirmed it was clipping the stumps – the umpire’s call stayed.
Bracewell had maintained tight lines, conceding just two runs in the second over. At that point, Kohler-Cadmore appeared crucial to Zalmi’s recovery after the early double blow.
