Defending champions Karachi Kings produced a stunning run-chase to defeat Multan Sultans by seven wickets in the ninth fixture of the Pakistan Super League at Karachi’s National Stadium yesterday afternoon.
For Kings’, the foundation of the 196-run chase was laid by the opening partnership of 56 between left-handed Sharjeel Khan (27 off 14) and player-of-the-match Babar Azam. After the departure of Sharjeel, Babar was joined by Joe Clarke. The pair added 97 runs stand for the second-wicket.
The right-handed Clarke contributed 54 off 26, smashing three fours and four sixes – his first half century in the sixth edition of PSL.
Kings were helped past the target by an unbroken 36-run partnership between Babar (90 not out, 60 balls, 13 fours, one six) and Mohamed Nabi (13 not out, eight balls, two fours) with seven balls to spare.
Shahnawaz Dhani with two wickets for 28 runs in three overs was the pick of the Sultans’ bowlers.
Earlier, after being put into bat by Kings’ captain Imad Wasim, the Sultans got off to a flying start. The opening pair of Chris Lynn and Mohamed Rizwan combined for a 50-run partnership in just 4.1 overs. The very next ball, Lynn fell to Imad after scoring 32 off 14 balls (six fours, one six), his highest so far in PSL 6.
Rizwan was joined by James Vince with scoreboard reading at 53 for one. Both batsmen continued to dominate the Kings bowling attack as they contributed 70 runs for the second-wicket before Rizwan became right-arm fast Arshad Iqbal’s first victim of the day. Rizwan scored 43 off 32 balls. He struck five boundaries.
Vince top-scored with a 29-ball 45, striking five fours and a six. Sohaib Maqsood contributed an unbeaten 34 off 27, which included two fours and a six, as they ended up scoring 195 for six in 20 overs.
For Kings, Arshad was pick of the bowlers with two for 36 in four overs.
In the second match yesterday, a four-wicket haul from Wahab Riaz led Peshawar Zalmi to a comfortable six-wicket win over Islamabad United. The United batsmen failed to counter pace bowling spells from Wahab – who returned a brilliant four for 17 – and Saqib Mahmood, who took three wickets for 12, as they were bowled out for 118 in 17.1 overs. Alex Hales scored 41 off 27.
In reply, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (46) and Shoaib Malik (29 not out) knitted a 60-run partnership for the third-wicket. Haider Ali blazed 36 at a strike rate of 200, which helped Zalmi chase down the total with 17 balls spare. (PSL)
BRIEF SCORES
n Multan Sultans 195-6 (James Vince 45, Mohamed Rizwan 43; Arshad Iqbal 2-36) lost to Karachi Kings 198-3 in 18.5 overs (Babar Azam 90 not out, Joe Clarke 54; Shahnawaz Dhani 2-28) by seven wickets.
n Islamabad United 118 all out in 17.1 overs (Alex Hales 41; Wahab Riaz 4-17, Saqib Mahmood 3-12) lost to Peshawar Zalmi 122-4 in 17.1 overs (Tom Kohler-Cadmore 46, Haider Ali 36; Hasan Ali 2-14) by six wickets.
Karachi Kings’ Babar Azam plays a shot during the Pakistan Super League match against Multan Sultans in Karachi yesterday. (AFP)
