LAHORE: Kamran Akmal smashed the fastest fifty in the history of Pakistan Super League (PSL) as Peshawar Zalmi showed no mercy to Karachi Kings in the rain-reduced second eliminator at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Kamran achieved the feat in just 17 balls, surpassing Islamabad United’s Luke Ronchi, as Karachi Kings were hit all over the park in 16-overs-a-side match after opting to bowl.
A wet outfield delayed the start of the knockout match, after intermittent rain most of the day. The game started at 8:15pm PST and was reduced to 16 overs a side.
Peshawar are without opener Tamim Iqbal, who is battling an injury. Karachi are without star all-rounder Shahid Afridi who is out due to a knee injury. The team also does not have the services of recovering skipper Imad Wasim, and is being led by Mohammad Amir.
Peshawar Zalmi beat Quetta Gladiators in a last-ball thriller last night, cementing their place in the second eliminator of against Karachi Kings.
Today’s winner will book a place against Islamabad United in the final, to be played in Karachi on March 25.
Peshawar and Karachi played each other twice during the group stages of the tournament, with Karachi Kings winning the first match by five wickets and Peshawar Zalmi winning the second by 44 runs.
Playing XI:
Karachi Kings: Mohammad Amir (captain), J Denly, Mukhtar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Colin Ingram, R Bopara, Mohammad Rizwan, Usama Mir, Usman Shinwari, T Mills, Danish Aziz
Peshawar Zalmi: Darren Sammy (captain), Kamran Akmal (wk), A Fletcher, Mohammad Hafeez, Saad Nasim, L Dawson, C Jordan, Umaid Asif, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Sameen Gul
