DUBAI: In his first two seasons of HBL Pakistan Super League, Shahid Afridi had mixed experience in the Peshawar Zalmi colours before parting ways in ambiguity at the end of last edition. But on Sunday night the ex-national skipper was at the fore again as he helped Karachi Kings dominate the reigning champions.

On a Dubai InternationalCricket Stadium pitch which became tougher for batting following a rainy spell, the seventh match followed almost exactly the same pattern that saw in the Sunday`s predicting game between Islamabad United and Multan Sultans.

Afridi born in Khyber Agency on March 1, 1980 but bredin Karachi from a young age was instrumental indismantling Peshawar batting with the key wicket of Mohammad Hafeez at a stage when the batting side needed stability after losing Kamran Akmal and Tamim Iqbal upfront to the immaculate Mohammad Amir in successive overs.

Afridi induced Hafeez (7 off 16 balls, one four) to hammer a half-volley straight down the lap of Karachi skipper Imad Wasim, who had placed himself at extra cover. The patent Afridi celebration with arms aloft was on while his team-mates ran in from all directions to hug Karachi`s most popular signing.

Afridi`s second wicket of the night arrived via the DRS after umpire had sprinted away without waiting to see the line of the ball striking Umaid Asif`s back thigh. The `not out` verdict was emphatically overturned on the review sought by Afridi.

By that juncture Peshawar were reeling at 77-7 in the 15th over and in danger of being dismissed before the three-figure mark.

But Dwayne Smith, finishing an undefeated 71 from 51 balls, held firm to such an extent that the West Indian right-hander scored just over 54 percent of the total runs mustered by his side.

Wahab Riaz (8) ably assisted Smith in adding 31 for the ninth wicket which remarkably was the highest partnership of the innings and the second best in the entire match Joe Denly and Babar Azam put on 41 for the second wicket during the run chase.

And although it was slow going, Karachi wisely chose not to take undue risks by unnecessarily adventurous.

The contributions from their top order were small but extremely vital for the cause.

Denly, the discarded England opener took 39 balls to make 29, Babar hit 28 from20 deliveries and when acceleration was needed Colin Ingram raced to 23 off 14 balls.

After those three perished, Ravi Bopara (17) and Mohammad Rizwan (19) put on 30 before Imad struck that winning six to take Karachi to the top of the standings.

A third successive victory against Lahore Qalandars, which was in progress when this report was filed on Monday, would put Karachi in driving seat before the PSL caravan moves to Sharjah for the second leg of fixtures.-Agencies