Umaid Asif celebrates after taking the wicket of Faheem Ashraf (not pictured) during the PSL match at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday. AFP

Pakistan Super League (PSL) leader Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings earned one-sided victories as chasing teams continued to prosper on Saturday.
Peshawar won a third straight match and handed Islamabad United their first defeat by six wickets.

Also, Babar Azam hit a second successive half-century for Karachi to beat Multan Sultans by seven wickets. All 10 round-robin matches have been won by the teams chasing after their skippers won the toss and opted to field.

Saqib Mahmood (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Alex Hales (L). AP

Peshawar, led by captain Wahab Riaz’s personal best PSL figures of 4-17, dismissed two-time champion Islamabad for the season’s lowest total of 118 in 17.1 overs. Alex Hales top-scored with 41.

Peshawar cruised to 122-4 with 17 balls to spare. Haider Ali hit three sixes and three fours in 36 off 18 balls.

Peshawar was 6-2 but Tom Kohler-Cadmore (46) and Shoaib Malik (29 not out) steadied the chase and Haider finished off.

Earlier, Babar’s unbeaten 90 off 60 balls — including 13 fours and a six — led Karachi to a winning 198-3 with seven balls to spare against Multan.

Rizwan plays a shot during a match. AFP

Englishman Joe Clarke, 54 off 26 balls, helped to take the game from Multan by combining with Babar in a stand of 97 runs. Clarke smashed four sixes against spinners Shahid Afridi and Khushdil Shah and added three boundaries.

Multan spoiled a blistering start by Chris Lynn — 32 off 14 balls — for 72-1 after six overs, and was restricted to 195-6.

Multan's slide began when James Vince (45) and skipper Mohammad Rizwan (43) fell in successive overs.

Karachi's fast bowlers also leaked only one boundary in the last five overs.

Associated Press