Pollard, Amin smash Peshawar Zalmi to victory

Twin fifties by Umar Amin and Kieron Pollard helped Peshawar Zalmi surge past Multan Sultans' total of 172 for a seven-wicket win in Dubai.

Sultans got off to a red-hot start reaching 65 for one in the Powerplay, after being sent in, and continued to cruise behind Johnson Charles' 26-ball half-century. But after Charles fell in the 13th to leave them at 114 for two, there was no finishing kick.

By comparison, Zalmi had a much slower start but paced their chase well. Amin played the anchor role in a 50-run third-wicket stand with Imam-ul-Haq before continuing to play second fiddle to Pollard in their unbeaten 91-run stand. His seventh four in a 37-ball 54 ensured Zalmi got across the line with four balls to spare.

The result completes a season sweep for Zalmi over Sultans after they overcame another Charles half-century just four days earlier.

Zalmi's pedestrian Powerplay - 39 for two - meant they were behind the asking rate for much of the innings before Pollard came to the crease in the 12th over. After getting off the mark with a six against Shahid Afridi, he made the most of the second life offered by Charles. In the span of three balls, he took the required rate down from more than 12 to a shade over six heading into the final two overs.

When on ten, Imam went to pull a good-length ball from Mohammad Ilyas in the fifth over but missed, resulting in a severe blow to the unmentionables. After a four-minute delay for treatment from the physio, he was finally able to resume and eventually made 39 before he was stumped charging Afridi.

Zalmi's fourth win draws them level with Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators on eight points, but they top the table thanks to a vastly superior net run-rate. Sultans remain in fifth place on four points, fractionally ahead of Karachi Kings on net run-rate.