After deciding to bat first, Peshawar Zalmi set a 228-run target against Multan Sultans with Tom Kohler-Cadmore smashing a half-century in the ninth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 being played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Zalmi’s decision to bat first appeared to have backfired as the former champions had been reduced to 5/2 in 2.1 overs as both their openers. Saim Ayub and Babar Azam perished cheaply.
Following the early slump, wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris joined Kohler-Cadmore in the middle and launched an astounding recovery.
The duo dominated Sultans’ bowlers to add 79 runs for the third wicket, conceding just 31 deliveries.
Haris, who was the core aggressor of the stand, eventually fell victim to Ubaid Shah in the eighth over and walked back after scoring 45 off 21 deliveries, laced with four fours and three sixes.
Kohler-Cadmore was then involved in another crucial partnership for Zalmi when he added 53 runs for the fourth wicket with Hussain Talat until falling victim to Michael Bracewell, who had earlier dismissed opening batter Ayub.
The Englishman remained the top-scorer for Zalmi with a 30-ball 52, studded with two fours and five sixes.
Zalmi then suffered another massive blow to their batting expedition when Talat was dismissed by Iftikhar Ahmed in the next over.
The left-handed batter made a vital contribution with a 29-ball 37, laced with three fours and a six.
His dismissal had reduced Zalmi to 143/5 in 14.5 overs but a sensational partnership between Abdul Samad and Mitchell Owen bolstered their total past the 200-run mark.
The duo added 73 runs for the sixth wicket until David Willey got rid of Owen in the penultimate over. He scored 34 off 15 deliveries with the help of one four and four sixes.
Samad, on the other hand, perished on the third delivery of the final over after scoring 40 off 14 deliveries, studded with four fours and three sixes.
For Sultans, Ubaid Shah, Bracewell and Willey picked up two wickets each, while Iftikhar Ahmed chipped in with one scalp.
PLAYING XIs
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Shai Hope, Usman Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Ashton Turner, Michael Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed, David Willey, Usama Mir, Akif Javed and Ubaid Shah.
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Tom-Kohler Cadmore, Hussain Talat, Mitch Owen, Abdul Samad, Luke Wood, Alzari Joseph, Arif Yaqoob and Ali Raza.
