In pursuit of 197 runs, Peshawar Zalmi encountered a turbulent beginning, deviating from their previous performances, as star openers Saim Ayub and skipper Babar Azam departed within the first over.
Their troubles persisted with Mohammad Haris’s dismissal in the fourth over, leaving Zalmi struggling at 18/3 after five overs. The responsibility to stabilize the innings fell on Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Paul Walter, but Islamabad’s bowlers presented a formidable challenge.
Unfortunately, Zalmi’s woes deepened with Kohler-Cadmore’s exit in the sixth over, courtesy of an exceptional catch by wicketkeeper Azam Khan.
On the first delivery of the sixth over, Hunain Shah delivered a short-of-length ball outside off, enticing the 29-year-old English batsman to attempt a cut shot. However, the ball only managed to find the outside edge, veering towards the right of the wicketkeeper.
— Shanaka Kundu (@KunduShanaka) March 4, 2024
In an extraordinary display of athleticism, Azam Khan lunged sideways, extending his right hand to pluck the speeding ball out of the air. Initially unaware of his remarkable feat, Azam was promptly congratulated by Colin Munro for his outstanding catch.
