DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Former Barbados and West Indies batting star, Dwayne Smith, lashed a stroke-filled unbeaten half-century but it failed to prevent Darren Sammy’s Peshawar Zalmi from suffering their second defeat in three matches, with a five-wicket loss to Karachi Kings.
Opting to bat first at Dubai International Stadium here Yesterday, Zalmi suffered a massive batting failure to end on 131 for nine from their 20 overs, with only Smith showing any enterprise with 71 not out off 51 deliveries.
The 34-year-old was one of just three batsmen to reach double figures but the only one to pass 15. He arrived at the crease at the fall of the first wicket in the second over and dominated the Kings bowling in an innings which comprised four fours and five sixes.
In reply, Barbados-born England all-rounder Chris Jordan grabbed two for 29 from four overs but Kings reached their target with two balls remaining.
Englishman Joe Denly, fresh from the Super50 tournament in the Caribbean where he turned out for semi-finalists Kent Spitfires, top-scored with a patient 29 from 39 balls while Pakistan stroke-maker Babar Adam made 28.
In the other game at the venue, West Indies star Andre Russell suffered the ignominy of a first-ball ‘duck’ but Islamabad United survived to beat Multan Sultans by five wickets.
Chasing a modest 114 for victory, Russell’s fellow Jamaica and West Indies teammate, Chadwick Walton, struck 28 from 23 deliveries to help Islamabad recover from the loss of opener Luke Ronchi to the third ball of the innings without a run on the board.
Russell perished in the 11th over, lbw to South Africa leg-spinner, Imran Tahir, but Pakistani Hussain Talat struck an unbeaten 44 from 34 balls, to guide Islamabad to the win.
West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard had earlier belted a quick-fire 28 from 19 deliveries as Sultans, sent in, were dismissed for a paltry 113 with a single delivery left.
Russell claimed two for 30 from three overs of medium pace.
