Highlights, PSL 2018, Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi, Eliminator 2 at Lahore, Full cricket score: Zalmi qualify for final

Darren Sammy, Peshawar Zalmi captain: Just one more to go, but credit goes to the boys for the way they played. Today Kami was exceptional; that partnership with Fletcher. Yeah it was a good pitch. The support we get from the fans, you can’t ask for more.

Mohammad Amir, Karachi Kings captain: We got off to a good start in the first four overs. But the way Kami bhai played thereafter, was the difference. Wherever he hit, it went the distance. I think it was his day. Would’ve been great had Karachi played the final at home. I think we have a lot to improve next year.

“I give full credit to the team, especially to the bowlers for defending the 170-run total. Thank to the Almighty, as well as the blessings of my parents, I have been able to deliver with the bat,” says MoM Kamran Akmal.

Kamran Akmal is the Man of the Match for his 27-ball 77, and also gets the Hanif Mohammed cap for being the top run-getter.

KK 157/2 after 16 overs (Denly 79, Ingram 5) 

Wahab Riaz bowls the final over, and he starts off with a no-ball called for height, as Ingram cops a blow on his abdomen. Ingram though, lobs the ball down the ground for a single, bringing Denly back on strike. Denly gets a thick leading edge, which sends the ball high up in the air, with Denly getting only a double as the ball is cut off near sweeper point. Swing and a miss for Denly off the third delivery, with Riaz bowling a slower bouncer on the occasion. Denly gets a boundary off the fourth delivery, but it is of little use for Karachi. Single to Denly off the fifth ball, guiding it towards fine-leg for a single. Ingram smacks the ball down the ground for a four, but it does little good for the chasing side as Karachi end up 13 runs short of the opposition’s total with as many as eight wickets left in their kitty, and with Denly batting on 79 off 46. 

Peshawar Zalmi win by 13 runs, and meet Islamabad United in the final of PSL 2018 at the National Stadium in Karachi!

FOUR! Ingram smacks the ball down the ground for a four — the first of his innings. Unfortunately for him, it comes off the last ball when Karachi Kings need 18 to win. KK 157/2

Peshawar Zalmi win by 13 runs and are through to the final of PSL 2018!

FOUR! Denly goes inside-out, and lofts the ball towards the extra-cover fence, although the match is virtually over for Karachi already! KK 152/2; need another 19 off 2 balls.

Wahab Riaz will bowl the final over of the innings. KK need 27 off the last over.

KK 144/2 after 15 overs (Denly 72, Ingram 0) 

Hasan bowls the penultimate over. Singles collected off the first two deliveries, with Azam and Denly rotating the strike between themselves. Azam holes out to deep midwicket while trying to accelerate the innings, getting a pat on his back from Pakistan teammate Hasan Ali on his way back. Denly though, keeps Karachi in the hunt with a six and two fours off the last three deliveries of the over. 

Karachi Kings need 27 off the last 6 balls with eight wickets in hand.

FOUR! Hit towards the fine-leg fence by Denly off the last ball of the penultimate over! KK 144/2

FOUR! Denly smacks the ball down the ground again! This time beats a diving Jordan at mid-off! KK 140/2

SIX! Lofted down the ground by Denly! Not only does it beat the running fielder, but also clears the rope! KK 136/2

OUT! The pressure did Babar Azam in, as he holes out to deep midwicket while trying to accelerate the Karachi innings! And it is Hasan Ali who collects his first wicket off his final over. KK 130/2

Azam c Dawson b Hasan 63(45)

Hasan Ali gets to bowl the penultimate over of the innings — which will also be his fourth.

KK 128/1 after 14 overs (Denly 57, Babar 62) 

Jordan bowls the 14th over. Azam sends the ball towards deep point for a single off the first delivery. Swing and a miss for Denly next ball, with the Englishman heaving the ball towards sweeper cover off the third, only for a single. Azam smacks the ball through extra-cover for a four off the fourth delivery. Terrific yorker by Jordan off the fifth, with Azam having little option but to block it. Single to Azam off the last ball, with seven coming off the over. 

Karachi Kings need 43 off the last 12 balls with nine wickets in hand.

FOUR! Brutal drive off Azam’s bat, and the fielders barely move to stop that! KK 127/1

Jordan to bowl the crucial 14th over.

Umpire Aleem Dar signals the timeout. Karachi Kings need 50 off 18 — a task not entirely impossible with two set batsmen at the crease.

KK 121/1 after 13 overs (Denly 56, Babar 56) 

Azam goes for a drive, but is cut off at extra-cover. Drives the next ball, and this time beats a diving mid-off to collect his fifth boundary. Denly swings his bat two balls later, with the ball landing just short of deep midwicket. Single to Azam off the next ball, with Denly ending the over by smacking the ball towards the extra-cover fence for a four. 11 off the over. KK need 50 off the last 18 balls.

FOUR! Smacked away towards the extra-cover fence by Denly off the last ball of the 13th over. KK 121/1

FOUR! Creamed through the gap between extra-cover and mid-off by Azam! And what a way for him to bring up the century-stand for the second wicket! KK 114/1

Hasan Ali brought back into the attack for the 13th over. Karachi Kings need another 61 to win from 24 balls.

KK 110/1 after 12 overs (Denly 51, Babar 50) 

Asif into his third over. Singles collected off the first two balls, with the 100 coming up for Karachi in the process. Azam sets off for a risky single after finding backward point, and is nearly run-out at the non-striker’s end. Four singles off the first four deliveries. Azam and Denly bring up their respective half-centuries in contrasting manners — off a single and a six respectively.

SIX! What a way for Denly to bring up his half-century, smacking the ball straight over the bowler’s head while taking a delivery less to get to the mark! KK 110/1

FIFTY for Babar Azam, and he gets to the milestone with a quick single. He hits four fours and two sixes, taking 35 balls to get there. KK 104/1

KK 99/1 after 11 overs (Denly 43, Babar 47) 

Wahab’s brought back into the attack for the 11th over, and he ends up getting hammered by both Azam and Denly. While Azam starts the over off with a wild slog that sends the ball flying over the bowler’s head for a maximum, Denly collects boundaries off the third and fourth deliveries of the over. 17 off it, with Karachi needing 72 to win off 30 balls now.

FOUR! Smacked down the ground by Denly, and this is turning out to be exactly the over that the Kings need! KK 97/1

FOUR! Fourth boundary for Denly, beating third man on this occasion! KK 93/1

SIX! Azam goes big straight down the ground! A welcome six for Kings, whose scoring rate had taken a hit in the last couple of overs. KK 88/1

Wahab Riaz is brought back into the attack in the 11th over of the innings from the Pavilion End.

KK 82/1 after 10 overs (Denly 34, Babar 39) 

Asif into his second over, and he keeps it tight. Gives away just five runs off it, including a wide, with neither Azam nor Denly getting the space to collect a boundary. The partnership’s worth 69, but unless the pair accelerates now, it could all be over for them soon.

KK 77/1 after 9 overs (Denly 33, Babar 37) 

Jordan back into the attack in the ninth over. Azam sets off for a single off the second delivery. Denly gets a double off the third delivery, driving off a full toss on this occasion. Slices the ball off the following delivery towards third man, with the ball landing just short of Gul, as Denly goes for a single. Two runs to Azam off the fifth, guiding it towards midwicket. Azam guides the ball towards deep square-leg off the last ball, coming back for a second after a fumble by the man in the deep. Eight off the over.

Jordan brought back into the attack in the ninth over.

KK 69/1 after 8 overs (Denly 30, Babar 32) 

Denly collects a single off the first ball of the over as Umaid Asif is introduced into the attack in the eighth over. Azam goes cheeky next ball, deliberately edging it past the keeper for a four. Lofts the ball down the ground for a double next ball, bringing up the fifty-stand with Denly. Gets a thick edge off the penultimate delivery which beats third man for a four. Azam keeps the strike with a single off the last ball. 12 runs off the over.

FOUR! This one’s a genuine edge off Azam’s bat, but still manages to beat third man nevertheless! KK 68/1

FIFTY partnership up between Denly and Azam, with the latter collecting a double off Asif in the eighth over to bring up the milestone! KK 64/1

FOUR! Cheeky stuff from Babar! Shuffles to his left, appearing to make room for a slog, only to edge it wide of the keeper! KK 62/1

Umaid Asif introduced into the attack in the eighth over of the innings.

KK 57/1 after 7 overs (Denly 29, Babar 21) 

Wahab Riaz is introduced into the attack in the seventh over, and he concedes a boundary to Azam off the first ball that he faces, with the ball running away to third man. Denly nearly ends up getting hit-wicket off the fourth ball! Cops a blow on his abdomen, falls behind, and pulls his bat away from the stumps in the nick of time. Interesting first over from Riaz, with six coming off it.

FOUR! Wahab starts off with a back-of-length delivery outside off, to which Azam presents the face of his bat late to guide it towards third man, getting a four in the end! KK 55/1

Wahab Riaz introduced into the attack in the seventh over.

KK 51/1 after 6 overs (Denly 28, Babar 16) 

Gul raps Denly on the pad off the first ball after powerplay, but is turned down by the umpire, with the Englishman setting off for a leg-by nevertheless. Azam runs the ball down to third man next ball for a single. Four byes collected off the third delivery, with the ball missing both the batsman’s inside-edge as well as Akmal’s gloves. The wicketkeeper appears to hurt himself after the dive, and needs the physio’s attention. Couple of singles exchanged off the next two deliveries, before Denly ends the over with a six, hitting the full delivery clean over the midwicket fence. 14 off the over.

SIX! Denly brings up the 50 for Karachi off the last ball of the sixth over! Picks the full delivery from Gul, and deposits it beyond the midwicket fence. KK 51/1

KK 37/1 after 5 overs (Denly 21, Babar 14) 

Jordan introduced into the attack in the final over of powerplay. Azam pulls towards backward square-leg for a single off the second. Denly fends a slower ball off the next delivery for a single. Azam whips a back-of-length delivery going down leg for a six over fine-leg, before collecting his first four with a cracking square drive. Good over for Karachi, with 12 coming off it, as Karachi reach 37/1 at the end of powerplay.

FOUR! Slashed away through the gap between cover and point, as Azam collects his first four right after the six. KK 37/1

SIX! Bad delivery from Jordan, as he fires a back-of-length delivery down leg, with Azam whipping this over the fine-leg boundary! KK 33/1

Bowling change for Peshawar, with Chris Jordan being introduced into the attack for the final over of powerplay.

KK 25/1 after 4 overs (Denly 20, Babar 3) 

Gul continues from the other end. Azam collects a single off the first ball. Denly gets hit on the thigh off the second off an inside-edge, which induces a grimace on the Englishman’s face. Denly collects the first six of the innings, making room for an inside-out slog that sends the ball flying towards the extra-cover fence. Denly chips the ball towards the non-striker, with Gul spilling the chance after diving to his right. Swing and a miss off the last ball for Denly. Eight off the over.

SIX! Denly makes room, and heaves the ball over the extra-cover fence! First big hit of the innings! KK 25/1

KK 17/1 after 3 overs (Denly 14, Babar 2) 

Hasan deceives Azam with a lovely outswinger off the second ball of the over. Azam continues to get beaten in the next two deliveries as well, with Hasan sticking to the challenging line outside off. Another dot off the fifth, as Azam taps the ball towards cover. Azam collects a single off the last ball, preventing his Pakistan teammate from walking away with a maiden.

KK 16/1 after 2 overs (Denly 14, Babar 1) 

Gul bowls from the other end, and makes an impact straightaway by inducing an edge off Mukhtar’s bat off the second ball, getting him caught by Sammy at slip. Denly gets an edge to Sammy two balls later, but the later responds negatively to the umpire as far as the chance is concerned, indicating that the ball landed on the grass first. Superb over from Gul early on, with just three runs and a wicket coming off it. Babar Azam, the new batsman, is already off the mark with a single.

OUT! Gul strikes off just his second delivery, as Mukhtar edges a length delivery straight into the hands of opposition captain Sammy standing at slip! KK 13/1

Mukhtar c Sammy b Gul 1(3)

Sameen Gul to bowl from the other end.

KK 13/0 after 1 over (Denly 12, Mukhtar 1) 

Hasan bowls the first over of the Karachi Kings innings, with rookie batsman Mukhtar Ahmed collected a single off the first ball to get off the mark. Denly though, gets the team off to a flier by collecting three boundary, two of which come off edges towards the third man region.

FOUR! Third boundary of the over for Denly, and this one comes off a whip towards the midwicket fence, where the diving fielder fails to save the boundary. KK 13/0

FOUR! Another edge off Denly’s bat, and this one carries over the slip fielder, and once again towards the third man fence! KK 9/0

FOUR! First boundary of the Karachi innings collected off just the second delivery, and this one comes off a thick edge off Denly’s bat that guides the ball wide of the slip fielder! KK 5/0

Mukhtar Ahmed and Joe Denly open the innings for Karach Kings. Hasan Ali — Man of the Match in the previous game — to bowl the first over.

Karachi Kings need 171 to win off 96 balls if they are to face Islamabad United in the final in front of their home crowd!

PZ 170/7 after 16 overs (Jordan 0, Hasan 0) 

Mills, who has been relatively decent so far in the innings, gets smacked for a six by Sammy first ball. The Peshawar captain gets a thick inside-edge next delivery, with the ball running away to the fine-leg fence for a four. Mills however, pulls things back for his side by dismissing Sammy off the third delivery, with the Zalmi captain holing out to Denly at long-on. Nasim’s run-out next ball after Wahab eggs him to set off for the non-striker’s end even when there isn’t a run. Wahab himself’s dismissed for a golden duck, in a manner not very different from that of Sammy, as Denly collects his third catch of the evening. A swing and a miss off the last ball, with a bye being collected nevertheless. 11 runs and three wickets off the last over of the Peshawar Zalmi innings in the rain-curtailed game.

OUT! That’s three wickets off as many balls! Wahab, who played a useful hand in the previous game, tries going big down the ground, only for Denly to collect his third catch at the region in this innings! PZ 169/7

Wahab c Denly b Mills 0(1)

OUT! Nasim misses, but forced to set off for the non-striker’s end by Wahab even when there is no run, with Mills easily clipping the bails off at the other end. PZ 169/6

Nasim run-out (Rizwan/Mills) 2(5)

OUT! Mills makes up for the six and four off the first two balls by getting rid of Sammy — who holes out to long-on while looking for another big hit! PZ 169/5

Sammy c Denly b Mills 23(12)

FOUR! A nightmarish start into the final over already for Mills! Slightly shorter from the English pacer, with Sammy getting an inside-edge that sends the ball running away to the fine-leg fence. PZ 169/4

SIX! Sammy smashes a full delivery from Mills down the ground, clearing the long-on fence on the occasion! PZ 165/4

Mills brought back for the last over of the innings.

PZ 159/4 after 15 overs (Sammy 13, Nasim 2) 

Amir bowls his fourth over — and will be the only one in the Karachi attack to do so. Sammy guides the ball over point, with Ingram pulling the ball back inside the playing area near the boundary rope to save Karachi a couple of runs. Wide off the next ball. Nasim pulls the ball just short of the man at short fine off the third delivery. A single and two dots off the remainder of the over, as the Karachi Kings captain signs off with figures of 0/16 from four overs — outstanding given the context of the game.

PZ 153/4 after 14 overs (Sammy 9, Nasim 1) 

Usman’s brought back in the 14th over, and he starts off with a yorker. Fires a yorker next ball, only for Sammy to pick it perfectly and smash it down the ground for a six, aand for it to also be called a no-ball. Leg-byes off the free-hit, with the ball hitting Sammy on the thigh pad. Swing and a miss for Dawson off the third delivery, before the Englishman holes out to Ingram at deep midwicket to depart for 13. Three runs off the remainder off the over, which comes through two singles and a wide. 11 runs and a wicket off it.

OUT! No big score for Dawson today! Heaves towards deep midwicket, only for the ball to land safely in the hands of the fielder stationed near the boundary. PZ 150/4

Dawson c Ingram b Usman 13(13)

SIX! It’s a double-whammy for Shinwari; not only does he get a yorker smacked down the ground for a six, but it’s also a no-ball! PZ 149/3

Usman Khan, who has conceded 38 off the two overs that he has bowled so far, is brought back into the attack.

PZ 142/3 after 13 overs (Dawson 13, Sammy 2) 

Amir brings himself back into the attack. Keeps it tight, and hardly gives the batsmen any room for the big shots, with just five coming off it — including a wide. Another three overs to go in the innings, and it would be something of a moral victory for Karachi if they’re able to restrict Peshawar to a score between 150-160 right now.

Mohammad Amir, having conceded just five off the two overs that he’s bowled so far, brings himself into the attack in the 13th over, with Karachi Kings sensing a chance to restrict Zalmi to less than 160 right now. Meanwhile, Sammy walks out to bat.

PZ 137/3 after 12 overs (Dawson 11, Sammy 0) 

Bopara into his third over, and he continues to impress. While the England all-rounder gets hit for a boundary off the second delivery, with Hafeez guiding the ball wide of backward point on the occasion, Bopara ends the over by collecting a simple return catch from ‘Professor’ off the last ball of the over. Seven runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Third wicket for Bopara, as Hafeez, who got the start that he would’ve wanted, chips the ball back to the bowler for an easy return catch! PZ 137/3
 

Hafeez c and b Bopara 13(8)

FOUR! Hafeez guides the ball wide of the fielder at backward point, with the ball running away to the fence. First four for Hafeez. PZ 135/2

PZ 130/2 after 11 overs (Dawson, 9, Hafeez 8) 

Mir brought back into the attack, with Dawson and Hafeez exchanging a couple of singles. Hafeez charges down the track in the fourth delivery, and smokes the ball down the ground to collect his first six. Mishit off his bat off the next delivery, though the ball lands short of Mukhtar at deep midwicket. 10 off the over.

SIX! Sweet timing off Hafeez’s bat after some delicate footwork, as he clears the long off fence to collect his first six! PZ 128/2

Usama Mir, who got hit for 19 runs off his first over, is brought back into the attack. Mohammad Hafeez walks out after Akmal’s dismissal.

Meanwhile, it’s time for a breather right now, with the timeout being taken in the Peshawar Zalmi innings.

PZ 120/2 after 10 overs (Dawson 7) 

Bopara is introduced into the attack in the 10th over, and he delivers for his captain by getting rid of both openers — preventing Akmal from getting to what would’ve perhaps been one of his most memorable centuries. While Bopara gets rid of Fletcher and Akmal off the first and last deliveries of the over, he does get hit for two sixes as well — the first of which is hit by new batsman Liam Dawson. 13 runs and two wickets off the over, with the two dismissals making things a lot more interesting now.

OUT! Pitched slightly short outside off, Akmal gets a leading edge that lobs the ball over to Mukhtar Ahmed at point, with the rookie holding on to the catch! And so ends another brilliant innings by the wicketkeeper-batsman — eight sixes, five fours and a strike rate of 285! PZ 120/2

Akmal c Mukhtar b Bopara 77(27)

SIX! Clean as a whistle off Akmal’s bat, as he heaves this one over long-on to collect his eighth six! PZ 120/1

SIX! What a start for Liam Dawson — the top-scorer for Zalmi in their previous clash! Pulls this one towards the square-leg fence, where the diving fielder isn’t able to get a hand to it, with the ball landing on the cushion for the umpire to signal it a six. PZ 113/1

OUT! And Bopara has struck! Fletcher tries smashing him down the ground for a six, but doesn’t quite get the connection, with Denly taking a fine catch just inside the playing area at long-on! PZ 107/1

Fletcher c Denly b Bopara 34(30)

Ravi Bopara is brought back into the attack in the 10th over. Unless he stops these two, Zalmi might already be setting their sights at the final.

PZ 107/0 after 9 overs (Fletcher 34, Akmal 71) 

Aziz, one of the rookies in the Karachi Kings bench who gets his first game in the league today, might have just got his confidence dented as he gets smashed for 16 off his first over, with Akmal smashing two sixes off the first two balls to bring up the century-opening stand off just 50 balls.

SIX! Back-to-back sixes for Akmal, and the 100-run opening stand comes up for Peshawar Zalmi already, with Akmal and Fletcher taking just 50 balls to bring it up! PZ 103/0

SIX! Akmal extends a rough welcome to Danish Aziz, getting down on one knee and smashing the ball over the midwicket fence! PZ 97/0

Left-arm spinner Danish Aziz is introduced into the attack in the ninth over.

PZ 91/0 after 8 overs (Fletcher 32, Akmal 57) 

Well Karachi do bowl a tight over for a change, as Mills gets reintroduced into the attack, and gives away just three singles off it. Akmal’s strike rate at the moment though, is a blazing 271.43.

Tymal Mills brought back into the attack in the eighth over. Can he stem the flow of runs, which is coming in a rush for Peshawar Zalmi right now.

“Doctor’s advised me seven weeks of rest. I shouldn’t play the final should Karachi make it,” says Karachi Kings’ marquee player Shahid Afridi, who is sitting out right now due to injury.

PZ 88/0 after 7 overs (Fletcher 31, Akmal 55) 

Mohammad Amir brings spin into the attack by tossing the ball over to Usama Mir, who is greeted into the attack by Akmal with a powerful cut that sends the ball scurring away to the point boundary. Singles collected off the next two deliveries, before Akmal smashes back-to-back sixes to bring up his half-century off just 17 deliveries — the fastest in the history of the competition! 19 off the over, and Zalmi look like they might cross 200 in a 16-over game.

SIX! Akmal whips a full-toss over the backward square-leg boundary, and brings up the fastest-ever PSL fifty in style! Takes just 17 deliveries to bring up the milestone! He raises his arms in celebration after the shot! PZ 87/0

SIX! Akmal shuffles down the track, and smashes the ball over long-off! Just two away from bringing up a 17-ball fifty! PZ 81/0

FOUR! There’s simply no stopping these two! Mir drops this one short, and Akmal cuts this one powerfully, beating the man at point! PZ 73/0

PZ 69/0 after 6 overs (Fletcher 30, Akmal 37) 

15 off the over. 69 after six overs. These two have forged a threatening partnership. They have already done the damage and Peshawar need something special to break this stand.

SIX! That is huge! Fletcher uses his feet and clobbers this over long on.

Spin introduced for the first time, with Usama Mir bowling the seventh over of the innings.

FOUR! Horrible misfield. Fletcher bunts one down to long off. But Amir lets it through his legs and blames the dew for it. To be honest, his technique was quite poor there.

FOUR! Fletcher walks down the track and smashes one over mid off.

PZ 54/0 after 5 overs (Fletcher 16, Akmal 36) 

25 runs off the over. Peshawar have already crossed the 50-run mark. Usman has leaked 38 runs in 2 overs. The momentum is with the Zalmis currently.

SIX! 6, 4, 4, 4, 6. 24 off the over already. Akmal rocks back and smashes one over deep square leg.

FOUR! Wow. He is in some touch, isn’t he? Akmal pulls one over midwicket off his front foot.

FOUR! Usman errs in line. Bowls it down the leg side and Kamran just sweeps it past the keeper.

FOUR! Slower ball and Akmal sweeps it through short fine leg.

SIX! Picks this up early. Short from Usman Khan and Akmal deposits it over deep square leg.

PZ 29/0 after 4 overs (Fletcher 16, Akmal 11) 

A 10-run over but Fletcher is still struggling. Hasn’t timed the ball well at all and consumed 18 balls for his 16 runs.

FOUR! Short and into the body from Fletcher. The West Indian stands tall and pulls it over midwicket and beats the deep square leg fielder easily.

SIX! Not at all intentional. Fletcher came down the ground to hit it over mid off but it top edged it over the third man fence.

PZ 19/0 after 3 overs (Fletcher 6, Akmal 11) 

Amir begins the over with three dots. Clearly underpressure, Fletcher went tfor a big slog and it took the leading edge. Luckily for him, it fell in no man’s land. Another good over from Amir. Four off it.

PZ 15/0 after 2 overs (Fletcher 3, Akmal 11) 

Kamran Akmal has found his momentum. He did inside edge one past the off stump but the last-ball six will give him a lot of confidence. Remember, he is the man in form. 13 off the over.

SIX! There it is. Typical Kamran Akmal shot that. Clears the front leg and tonks this fuller delivery over the bowler’s head.

FOUR! Inside edged! Akmal tries to pull this shortish delivery but it takes the inside edge and beats the keeper and runs away to the fence.

PZ 2/0 after 1 over (Fletcher 1, Akmal 0) 

A good start for Kings. Amir hardly bowled any freebies and it wasn’t until the last ball of the over that a run was scored off the bat.

Kamran Akmal and Andre Fletcher are the Zalmi openers. Mohammad Amir opens the bowling for Karachi Kings.

Three major blows for Karachi Kings, with Shahid Afridi, Imad Wasim (injuries) and captain Eoin Morgan (refusal to travel to Pakistan) missing out on the crunch game against Peshawar Zalmi. Danish Aziz, Mukhtar Ahmed and Ravi Bopara are included in their stead. 

KK XI: Joe Denly, Mukhtar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Colin Ingram, Ravi Bopara, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Usama Mir, Mohammad Amir (c), Danish Aziz, Usman Khan, Tymal Mills

Peshawar Zalmi make one change to their team that defeated Quetta Gladiators in the first eliminator — Chris Jordan comes in for Tamim Iqbal. 

PZ XI: Kamran Akmal (wk), Andre Fletcher, Mohammad Hafeez, Saad Nasim, Darren Sammy (c), Liam Dawson, Chris Jordan, Umaid Asif, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Sameen Gul

TOSS: Karachi Kings win the toss, and opt to field first.

Aleem Dar has just said on air that the toss will be at 8.15 pm and the match will start at 8.45 pm. The game has also been reduced to 16 overs per side.

If the match is abandoned due to rain, Karachi Kings will advance into the final because they finished higher in the points table. The inspection is scheduled at 8 pm.

The toss is still delayed. THe umpires will inspect the pitch in around 20 minutes. Reduction in overs quite possible.

@SAfridiOfficial and @simadwasim both are injured. We pray for there speedy recovery . So tonight @KarachiKingsARY will be lead by Pakistan’s top fast bowler and a player who has been with #KarachiKings from inception @iamamirofficial !

— Salman Iqbal ARY (@Salman_ARY) March 21, 2018

Meanwhile, the outfield’s a wet one, and we certainly could have some delay in both the toss as well as the start of play. Trust the Gaddafi authorities to take extreme measures to get the outfield dry and ready. 

Helicopter arrives at the Gaddafi Stadium to help dry the wet outfield
👏👏👏#DilSeJaanLagaDe #HBLPSL#KKvPZ pic.twitter.com/ohbSxsvkHA

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 21, 2018

Big news coming in from the Karachi Kings camp, with Shahid Afridi and Imad Wasim missing out for the side due to injury issues. England’s Eoin Morgan earlier refused to travel to Pakistan. 

📰 @iamamirofficial will lead @KarachiKingsARY in Eliminator 2 today at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Good luck Amir 👍#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #KKvPZ pic.twitter.com/83dtGZKx7s

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 21, 2018

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of the second eliminator of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017, with Karachi Kings taking on Peshawar Zalmi at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.