Quetta Gladiators secured their second win of PSL X, defeating Karachi Kings by a narrow margin of five runs in a tense, low-scoring contest at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Friday night.
Defending a modest 142-run total, Quetta’s bowlers, led by the pace trio of Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Amir, and Khurram Shahzad, produced a spirited all-round performance to deny Kings a successful chase. The trio combined for six wickets, conceding just 79 runs in their 12 overs. Player of the match Abrar Ahmed played a pivotal role, giving away just 15 runs in his economical four-over spell and picking up the crucial wicket of Khushdil Shah.
Karachi were rocked early when Amir dismissed David Warner for a run-a-ball four. However, a solid 73-run stand between Tim Seifert (47 off 26, 5x4s, 2x6s) and James Vince (30 off 29, 3x4s, 1×6) steadied the innings. But Saud Shakeel’s clever bowling accounted for Vince, and Seifert fell soon after to Wasim Jnr, triggering a dramatic collapse that saw Kings slump from 77-2 to 115-8.
Hasan Ali’s late onslaught — 24 not out off 13 balls, featuring three fours and a six — kept Kings in the hunt, but the target ultimately proved just beyond reach as they finished on 137-8 in their 20 overs.
Earlier, Quetta’s innings was rattled by an inspired opening burst from Hasan Ali, who removed Saud Shakeel, Finn Allen, and Rilee Rossouw inside the first four overs to leave Gladiators reeling at 20-3.
Kusal Mendis (36 off 22) and debutant Mark Chapman tried to revive the innings with a brisk 24-run stand before both fell in quick succession. Gladiators’ innings found some stability through a fighting 59-run sixth-wicket partnership between Faheem Ashraf (43 off 27, 4x4s, 3x6s) and Hasan Nawaz (35 off 34), taking them from 69-5 to 128-6.
However, Fawad Ali broke the partnership and a lower-order collapse saw Quetta lose their last four wickets for just 14 runs, bowled out for 142 in 19.3 overs. Hasan Ali finished with impressive figures of 3-33, while Mir Hamza and Mohammad Abbas Afridi chipped in with two wickets apiece.
Scores in brief:
Match 15: Quetta Gladiators beat Karachi Kings by five runs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Quetta Gladiators 142 all out, 19.3 overs (Faheem Ashraf 43, Kusal Mendis 36, Hasan Nawaz 35; Hasan Ali 3-33, Mir Hamza 2-24, Mohammad Abbas Afridi 2-31)
Karachi Kings 137-8, 20 overs (Tim Seifert 47, James Vince 30, Hasan Ali 24 not out; Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-22, Mohammad Amir 2-26, Khurram Shahzad 2-31)
Player of the match – Abrar Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators)
Saturday’s fixture: Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; 8pm PKT
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