Peshawar Zalmi pull-off thriller against Karachi Kings

Sharjah - Sammy turns hero with last over.

Javed Miandad's last-ball six of Chetan Sharma when only four runs were needed in the Austral-Asia Cup final in 1986 is well etched in every cricket lover's memory.
A similar situation arose on Thursday at the same venue - the Sharjah Cricket Stadium -- which has produced many nerve-tingling matches. This time it was in a Pakistan Super League match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings.
Karachi needed 13 runs to win off the last over. It's never easy for a bowler to take on the challenge at this stage. You can end up as a hero but also be crucified if the team loses.
Darren Sammy stepped up and took the onus on himself to bowl the final over for Peshawar and facing him was Ravi Bopara, who until then was batting like a man possessed.
When Bopara hurled Sammy's first ball full toss for a six over cover point the stadium rose to a crescendo. At this point in time it seemed like a wrong decision on the part of Shahid Afridi to throw the ball to the West Indian.
Bopara squeaked in another two runs from the next ball.
Now the pressure began to mount on Sammy but the big hearted bowler that he is, he came back strongly to get Bopara out with another full toss - the England batsman holing out to Shahid Yousuf in the deep.
With five needed from three balls it was still any one's game. The capacity crowd were on the edge of their seats. Sammy conceded one in his next ball, then a run-out followed and the stadium rose to a crescendo.
The suspense began to build as four runs were needed off the last ball. The Karachi supporters began chanting 'six', 'six'. Unfortunately, the script took a different turn. Mohammad Amir took strike but Sammy came charging in and bowled a yorker length delivery which was a bit widish. Amir had a swipe at it but missed and Sammy was the hero.
What at one stage looked like a cakewalk victory for Peshawar turned into a nail-biting win in the end.
The win has lifted Peshawar to six points along with Quetta Gladiators and into a safer zone compared with Karachi who are on two points along with Lahore Qalandars. Islamabad United have four points.
Overall it was a T20 match which brought the crowd on its feet and that's what one expects when one comes to watch a live match.
Afridi summed it up after the match when he said: "This is the kind of cricket we need. Doesn't matter if we win or lose, the spectators must enjoy the game.
"Bopara played an outstanding knock I wasn't confident in the end but Sammy came up to me and said we could win it."
Bopara also came in for praise from his captain Shoaib Malik. "The way Bopara batted was exceptional. I have no words to describe his batting.
However, Malik felt they were a step away from winning but admitted the team has a few flaws.
"The time has come to step up. We need a third pacer. I think that's where we are lacking a bit."
Earlier, Mohammed Hafeez and Tamim Iqbal gave Peshawar just the perfect start with a 93-run partnership. Hafeez went on the offensive attacking Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim and Sohail Tanvir as Iqbal tried to keep pace with him.
Hafeez raced to his 59 in just 35 balls. Of the three sixes he struck one went soaring onto the roof of the west stand.
Kamran Akmal took his place and kept the scoreboard ticking with 30 from 20 balls (two fours and two sixes).
But Karachi came back strongly through some good yorkers from Mohammed Amir which stemmed the flow of runs.
The frustration showed on Iqbal (37) as he tried to throw his bat around but didn't trouble the scorers much.
It was left to Shahid Afridi (17 from 9 balls, a four and a six) and Darren Sammy (18 from 10 balls, a four and two sixes) to have a few wild heaves and put up a fighting total.
Brief scores: Peshawar Zalmi 182 for 4 (Mohammed Hafeez 59, Tamim Iqbal 37, Kamran Akmal 30, Darren Sammy 18 n.o., Shahid Afridi 17 n.o.; Ravi Bopara 2/31) Karachi Kings 179 for 9 (Ravi Bopara 67, James Vince 44, Sohail Tanvir 23; Wahab Riaz 2/29).
Man of the match: Mohammad Hafeez.
 
Today's matches
Sharjah Cricket Stadium

3. : Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars