Kamran Akmal, Hasan Ali shine as Peshawar Zalmi finish atop PSL table
An opening stand of 137 between Akmal and Imam-ul-Haq (59) set the tone for Zalmi's dominant performance on Monday, 11 March. However, the rest of the batsmen did not make the most of the foundation – the most any other batsman managed was 12.
Ali kept the team in the hunt, dismissing Colin Munro in the very first over of the Karachi chase, and Sameen Gul followed it up with Babar Azam's wicket to give Zalmi control. A brace each from Gul, Tymal Mills and Wahab Riaz broke Karachi's spine, and Ali sliced through the lower order to help Zalmi to a massive win.
For his sensational knock, @KamiAkmal23 is the Man of the Match.#HBLPSL #KhelDeewanoKa #KKvPZ pic.twitter.com/0rvBvTLeyP
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 11, 2019
The huge margin meant that Zalmi's net run-rate shot up and pushed them above Quetta Gladiators – both teams are level on 14 points. The two top-ranked teams will face-off in the first Qualifier on Wednesday in Karachi.
The winner will go straight to the final of the tournament. The losing side will face the winner of the Eliminator, to be played on Thursday between Islamabad United and Karachi.
Zalmi have made the final once before, in 2017, and they emerged victorious. The Gladiators, meanwhile, have made the finals twice, but were defeated both times.