Nahid Rana produced a sensational spell of fast bowling to guide Peshawar Zalmi to a commanding 159-run victory over Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League, with fellow Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam also playing a supporting role.
After being put in to bat, Zalmi recovered from an early setback to post a daunting 246 for 3. Kusal Mendis led the charge with a blistering 109 off 52 balls, striking four sixes and 14 fours.
He shared a decisive 191-run partnership with Babar Azam, who remained unbeaten on 87 from 51 deliveries, hitting two sixes and 10 boundaries.
Late acceleration came from Abdul Samad, who smashed 40 off just 12 balls, as Zalmi surged to a total close to 250.
Karachi’s chase never gained momentum, as Zalmi’s bowlers struck early and often. Nahid, rebounding strongly after an expensive debut outing, delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with figures of 3 for 7 from four overs, including a maiden.
He removed key batters including Saad Baig, Khushdil Shah and Adam Zampa, showcasing both pace and control throughout his spell.
Shoriful made an immediate impact by dismissing David Warner with a sharp bouncer in his opening over, ending with figures of 1 for 23 from three overs.
Iftikhar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem also starred with three wickets each, as Karachi were bundled out for just 87.
Only Azam Khan offered brief resistance with 25, while the rest of the batting line-up collapsed under relentless pressure.
