The record-breaking stand between Shoaib Malik and Imad Wasim was in vain as Peshawar Zalmi held their nerves to clinch a victory over Karachi Kings in match two of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Needing 16 from the last over, youngster Khurram Shahzad bowled a superb over as he conceded just 13 runs to hand the Babar Azam XI a morale-boosting win at the National Bank Cricket Arena on Tuesday.

Chasing a massive 200-run target, Kings were out of the game until captain Imad Wasim and Shoaib Malik took over the proceedings. They were reduced to 46/4 in 6.1 overs, thanks to a brilliant spell of James Neesham.

The New Zealand pacer ended up with the figures of 4-26 from his four-over spell.

The game was well beyond the reach of Kings, when they came out to bat. However, Malik and Imad changed the course of the game with a 131-stand for the fifth wicket here at the National Bank Cricket Arena by smashing fours and sixes.

In the 9th over, Imad Wasim took charge against Khurram Shahzad and hit him for three boundaries. Overall, they hit a total of 11 boundaries and five maximums in their 74-ball partnership. Malik went on to score 52 off 34 hit four boundaries and two maximums.

Meanwhile, the Karachi Kings captain, who was the dominant partner in the stand, scored an unbeaten 80 off 47 deliveries, where he struck seven fours and four sixes.

Kings managed to score 197/5 in their 20 overs.

For Zalmi, Wahab Riaz and Neesham claimed two wickets each for the winning side.

Earlier, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and captain Babar Azam hit magnificent half-centuries as Peshawar Zalmi set a massive 200-run target after losing the toss.

The right-hander ended up scoring 92, while the Zalmi skipper played a classy knock of 68.

It was an emotional return for Babar Azam, who was playing against Karachi Kings – the side where he spent six seasons and won the title in 2020.

Crow made a huge roar as he walked out to bat under the lights. Mohammad Haris made his intentions clear from the first delivery when he smashed Mohammad Amir down to the ground on the first delivery of the innings.

Babar greeted his former teammate Amir with his trademark cover drive.

However, Karachi Kings made a strong comeback through Mir Hamza, who removed Mohammad Haris and runout Saim Ayub at the non-striker’s end to reduce Zalmi to 19/2 after two overs.

Peshawar Zalmi got their momentum back in the fifth over of the innings when Cadmore unleashed on Imad Wasim as the batter smashed three maximums in the over.

Babar, who got only a couple of bowls against Imad, smashed the spinner toward the boundary, as Zalmi reached 50 in the over.

The duo continued to rotate the strike and score an odd boundary in the over, to keep Zalmi momentum going. They made a 139-run stand for the third wicket to bring back into the game.

In the 16th over, Imran Tahir finally broke the shackles, when he removed Babar Azam. The prolific runs-getters scored 68 with the help of seven boundaries and a maximum.

Meanwhile, the Englishman continued his dominance from the other end as he went on to score 92 off just 50 deliveries.

The 28-year-old struck seven boundaries and six maximums in his innings as Peshawar finished the innings with 199/5 from their 20 overs.

For Karachi, Mir Hamza, Ben Cuttings, Imran Tahir, and Andrew Tye claimed a wicket each for the home side.

This was the first of the nine matches scheduled to be played at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.

Lineups

Karachi Kings: Sharjeel Khan, Matthew Wade, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Qasim Akram, Ben Cutting, Imad Wasim, Andrew Tye, Imran Tahir, Mir Hamza, and Mohammad Amir.

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Mohammad Haris, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, James Neesham, Shakib Al Hasan, Wahab Riaz, Khurram Shahzad, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Salman Irshad.