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Abdul Samad and Michael Bracewell launched blistering cameos for Peshawar Zalmi, propelling them to a five-wicket win over PSL debutants Rawalpindiz in the afternoon match of the first double-header of the tournament Saturday.The destructive 64-run partnership between Bracewell (35 not out, 17b, 3x4s, 2x6s) and Samad (33, 11b, 1x4, 4x6s) off just 23 balls set the tone for Zalmi to register the fifth-highest successful run chase in PSL history and the highest target scaled down at the Gaddafi Stadium in all T20s.The two were paired at the crease following the loss of the fourth wicket, when Zalmi still required a further 85 runs for victory off 35 deliveries.The 16th, 17th and 18th overs of the chase then fetched Zalmi a combined tally of 53 runs with the help of six sixes as Rawalpindiz bowlers failed to prevent the duo’s stunning power-hitting exhibition.Samad’s dismissal at the end of a Mohammad Amir over that cost 19 runs ignited some hopes of a comeback for Rawalpindiz, but Aamir Jamal (17 not out, 5b, 2x4s, 1x6) soon punished Naseem Shah in the proceeding over to haul his side over the line.Peshawar had a formidable start to the chase of the 215-run target with Mohammad Haris and skipper Babar Azam racking up 62 runs in the Powerplay.Babar was undone by left-arm spinner Asif Afridi in the ninth over for a 28-ball 39, whereas Haris fell off the bowling of Amad Butt in the 10th over for a rapid 47 off 28 balls inclusive of four fours and two sixes with the scorecard reading 96-2 at the halfway mark.Kusal Mendis also chipped in with a useful 17-ball 31 featuring two sixes and a four before becoming Amad’s second victim of the day. Of the five bowlers deployed by Rawalpindiz, only Rishad Hossain conceded at a rate of less than 11 runs an over, returning 1-35 in his four overs.Having elected to bat first, Rawalpindiz rode on Yasir Khan’s swashbuckling 83 off 46 balls to post an imposing 214-4 in their 20 overs. After four scoreless balls in the first over, Yasir took charge by hitting the first six of the innings off Shoriful Islam. He was well complemented in his belligerent effort by fellow opener Mohammad Rizwan, who deposited four boundaries in a row against Ali Raza in the fourth over of the innings. The opening partnership surged to 125 in 12 overs when young pacer Ali returned to scalp Rizwan.Yasir continued his blazing strokeplay, finally falling in the 15th over after clubbing a total of seven boundaries and six maximums. Kamran Ghulam (37, 20b, 2x4s, 3x6s) and Daryl Mitchell (23, 13b, 2x6s) delivered solid cameos to take Rawalpindiz well past the 200-run mark.Ali was Zalmi’s most prolific bowler with two wickets, albeit ending on the expensive side with 42 runs conceded in three overs.BRIEF SCORESPeshawar Zalmi 218 for 5 (Haris 47, Babar 39, Bracewell 35*, Samad 33, Butt 2-45) beat Rawalpindi Pindiz 214 for 4 (Yasir 83, Rizwan 41, Raza 2-42) by five wickets 

New Zealand overcame a blitz from centurion Harry Brook to beat England by four wickets Sunday in the opening game of their three-match one-day international series, with Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell scoring half-centuries.The hosts wobbled chasing 224, losing four quick wickets, including former captain Kane Williamson for a first-ball duck in his first match for the side since March, but Mitchell took them home with an unbeaten 78 after being dropped on 33.Bracewell also earned a reprieve early on and ran himself out for 51 to open the door for England after the initial burst from Brydon Carse (3-45), but New Zealand got back on track thanks to Mitch Santner’s 27 and prevailed in 36.4 overs.“There was still a lot in the wicket,” skipper Santner said.“We lost a couple more than we would have liked in the chase but the intent was great ... Daryl and Michael’s partnership was massive for us.”England recovered from a disastrous start as captain Brook bludgeoned 135 from 101 balls and Jamie Overton made 46 to help their side finish on 223 all out in 35.2 overs for a fighting chance in the contest.Asked to bat first at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, England were rocked early by New Zealand’s seamers as Zak Foulkes (4-41) and Matt Henry (2-53) reduced the tourists to 56-6 within 12 devastating overs in helpful conditions.‘GREAT START’“Yeah it was tough work in the end, but I think the way we started off, with wickets in the powerplay, it’s always a great start,” Santner said.“We know Matt can do that and then Zak was outstanding, the way he swung it. It looks like a nightmare facing him. Obviously long spells, but we knew wickets were massive because even when they’re four or five down they’ve got (batsmen).“Getting Brook earlier would have been nice but he was outstanding today.”Brook went into attack mode despite the carnage around him and brought up his fifty in 36 balls with a top-edged six off Nathan Smith, before Overton took his team’s total to three figures with another big hit off Jacob Duffy (3-55).Overton shrugged off being hit on the helmet by Smith and closed in on his own half-century, but departed four runs short after a fine catch on the second attempt by Mitchell that ended the 87-run seventh-wicket partnership.Duffy removed Carse with the very next ball to leave England teetering again on 143-8, but Brook took control following Adil Rashid’s fall shortly afterwards, reaching his ton with three consecutive sixes and taking his side past 200 runs.A belligerent Brook continued to deal in big shots, swelling his tally of sixes to 11, but was snared trying to sweep Santner out of the park as New Zealand stopped the bleeding to stay on top in the series opener.“I felt I was in good touch,” man of the match Brook said.“Obviously we didn’t get off to a great start and I tried to take it up on myself to have a counter-punch. Thankfully it came off today. I’ve done it a few times actually, it’s a do-or-die moment. I managed to get us a decent score to defend. We started nicely with the ball, but we just struggled to take wickets throughout the middle.”The second game takes place in Hamilton on Wednesday, with New Zealand seeking another victory after losing the preceding rain-hit Twenty20 series between the teams 1-0.BRIEF SCORESNew Zealand 224 for 6 (Mitchell 78*, Bracewell 51, Carse 3-45) beat England 223 (Brook 135, Overton 46, Foulkes 4-41, Duffy 3-66) by four wickets