Nahid Rana delivered a stunning spell of fast bowling to inspire Peshawar Zalmi to a crushing 159-run victory over Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League, drawing high praise from Moeen Ali.
After a modest debut in his previous outing, Nahid responded emphatically, finishing with exceptional figures of 3 for 7 from four overs. Fellow Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam also played his part with 1 for 23, as Karachi were bowled out for just 87 in pursuit of 246.
Zalmi’s dominance began with the bat, as Kusal Mendis struck a superb 109 off 52 balls. He shared a decisive 191-run stand with captain Babar Azam, who remained unbeaten on 87 from 51 deliveries.
Late acceleration from Abdul Samad, who blasted 40 off just 12 balls, pushed Zalmi to an imposing total of 246 for 3.
Karachi’s reply never gathered momentum. Shoriful struck early to remove David Warner for a golden duck, before Nahid tore through the middle order with raw pace and accuracy.
He dismissed key batters including Saad Baig, Khushdil Shah and Adam Zampa, underlining his growing reputation as a fast-bowling prospect.
Moeen Ali admitted his side struggled to cope with Nahid’s pace and discipline.
“Facing express pace is always difficult on any pitch. The lengths he bowled were excellent, and he didn’t offer many scoring opportunities,” Moeen said.
“You don’t often come up against bowlers of that speed, so he was tough to handle. I’ve seen him in the BPL as well — he has the pace and height, and he used both very well. Hopefully, he becomes a star for Bangladesh.”
Babar Azam credited the victory to a collective effort from the entire side.
“It was a complete team performance. The confidence from batting carried into our bowling. Everyone executed their roles according to the plan,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of early momentum. “Our plan was to make the most of the first six overs. The partnership with Mendis was crucial in setting that tone.”
The win takes Zalmi to second place in the table with seven points from four matches, just behind Multan Sultans.
