Zalmi fall three-run short from direct PSL2020 semifinal qualification

• Match was peing played at National Stadium Karachi.

Peshawar Zalmi fell three-run short from directly qualifying for the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) season five semifinals.

With 15 runs required from last over bowled by Ali Shafiq, Adil Amin and Hasan Ali fell three runs short to see their side over the line. With this victory Sultans secure their top spot on the points table.

Chasing 155, Zalmi looked off colour, before Imam ul Haq and Shoaib Malik (30) took over the proceedings. They lost three quick wickets for just 56 runs on the board.

Their 70-run stand for the fourth wicket bought Zalmi back in the game. When they reach 126, Sohail Tanvir provided a crucial breakthrough in shape of Imam, who went back to the dugout after scoring 56. He struck four boundaries and two maximums in his entertaining knock.

Other noticeable performance came from Umar Amin's bat, who scored 29.

Sohail Tanvir was pick of Sultans' bowling attack as he claimed three wickets for the winning side.

Earlier, tight bowling restricted Sultans to 154 in match 27 of the tournament.

Batting first in front of an empty stadium — as part of precautionary measure to avoide coronavirus out break — Zalmi went off to a decent start thanks to Rohail Nazir and Zeeshan Ashraf.

Rahat Ali provided an eartly breakthrough to Zalmi in shape of Rohail Nazir, who departed after scoring 14.

Meanwhile, Skipper Shan Masood and Zeeshan put on 60-run stand for the second wicket, guding Sultans to 92/1 in 11.3 overs.

Rahat once again provided breakthrough as he removed Zeeshan and Moeen Ali in back to back deliveries. Zeeshan departed after scoring 52 while Moeen bagged a golden duck.

Later on in the innings, Khushdil Shah played a 30-run cameo alongside Shahid Afridi, who scored quick 19 to lead Sultans to 154/6 in 20 overs.

Rahat was pick of Zalmi bowling attack, claiming three wickets in his spell of four overs. Mohammad Amir Khan, Skipper Wahab Riaz and Hasan Ali shared a wicket each for Zalmi.

It is worth to mention here that Zalmi were playing in the game without fielding any foreign player, as they returned to their netive countries amid coronavirus concerns.