LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators edged Karachi Kings by five runs in a last-over thriller of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
Chasing 143, Karachi Kings could only manage to score 137-8 in 20 overs.
Karachi Kings got off to a bad start When Mohammad Amir struck skipper David Warner for just four runs in the opening over. Quetta Gladiators were under siege from Tim Seifert and James Vince’s fierce retaliation.
They regularly found the boundaries and took charge, forming a 50-run partnership for the second wicket. When Quetta captain Saud Shakeel broke their partnership by removing Vince for 30 runs off 29 deliveries, the Kings were at 77 for 2 in the ninth over but the game’s momentum shifted.
Mohammad Wasim Jr. dismissed Seifert for a quick 47 runs off 26 balls, bringing Karachi to 93 for 3 in the 12th over.
The increasing strain caused the middle order to collapse. After struggling, Shan Masood was dismissed by Khurram Shahzad for a dismal 9 runs off 17 balls. Abrar Ahmed dismissed Khushdil Shah without scoring while Mohammad Nabi was dismissed by Khurram Shehzad.
Wasim Jr. further hurt Karachi Kings’ chances by removing Omair Bin Yousuf for 11 runs, while Shahzad struck once more, sending Abbas Afridi. Hasan Ali put up a strong show, scoring 24 not out off 13 balls, but the Kings lost by five runs, falling short of their goal.
Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, and Khurram Shahzad picked up two wickets each.
After being asked to bat first, Quetta Gladiators were bowled out for 142 in 19.3 overs, thanks to Karachi Kings’ dominant pace bowling. The Gladiators’ top four batsmen fell within the powerplay, with Hasan Ali striking early to dismiss Saud Shakeel and Finn Allen.
Rilee Rossouw’s brief innings ended when Hasan trapped him LBW after 10 runs. Mark Chapman, playing his first PSL match, managed just four runs before being dismissed by Mohammad Nabi.
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Kusal Mendis provided some resistance, scoring 36 off 22 balls, but Quetta’s hopes lifted with Hasan Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf’s 59-run partnership. Faheem hit two sixes and four fours in his 43 runs from 27 balls.
However, after Hasan Nawaz’s dismissal in the 16th over, Quetta collapsed, losing wickets in quick succession. Hasan Ali finished with 3/33 in 3.3 overs, while Abbas Afridi and Mir Hamza took two wickets each.
The 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League kicked off on April 11 and will run till May 18.
The six-team tournament will consist of 34 matches with Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium hosting 13 matches, including the two Eliminators and the final.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host 11 PSL 10 matches, including the first Qualifier on May 13, while Multan Cricket Stadium will host five matches.
Karachi’s National Bank Stadium has hosted five games of the ongoing edition.
