Karachi Kings' skipper Babar Azam's fighting 90* off 63 didn't really help his side to go over the line against Peshawar Zalmi as they fell short of the target by 9 runs.
The Kings were handed a target of 174 in 20 overs but lost a couple of early wickets before Babar was joined by Ian Cockbain in the middle.
The two batters then provided some resistance to the side and stitched a partnership of 74 runs for the third wicket. But Cockbain's departure for 31 off 19 broke the shackles and the Karachi side lost wickets at regular intervals to eventually get restricted to 164/6 in 20 overs.
Mohammad Umar was the pick of the bowlers scalped three wickets for 22 runs in 4 overs while Shoaib Malik who had a good outing with the bat also scalped a wicket in the only over that he bowled at the cost of just two runs.
Earlier, riding on Zazai's aggressive knock of 41 off 27 and Malik's unbeaten 52 off 28, the Peshawar side put up a total of 173/4 in 20 overs. Asif picked up three wickets but at the cost of 36 runs in 4 overs.
"To bowl the variations was the plan from the coach and captain. I practice a lot in the nets. I practice the slower balls and it was good to see the execution today," Umar said after the match.