Shoaib Malik’s unbeaten 17-ball 27 and James Vince’s blistering 27-ball 42 powered Karachi Kings past Lahore Qalandars in the 26th match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Karachi on Saturday.
KARACHI KINGS' INNINGS
Chasing a target of 178, the Kings chased the equation on the last delivery off Zaman Khan, when Malik motored the former for a boundary to beat the Qalandars.
James Vince and Tim Seifert provided a solid start for the Kings by racking up a 59-run partnership.
Vince creamed six boundaries and one six.
Tim Seifert looked good for his 33-ball 36 before he was run out by the collective efforts of Sikandar Raza and Shai Hope.
Shan Masood, once again could not convert his start to the big inning and was flummoxed by Sikandar Raza on 16-ball 24.
Irfan Khan was looking good for his fiery 16-ball 35, complimenting with six boundaries.
Kieron Pollard could only score a 5-ball 3.
Anwar Ali (1) and Arafat Minhas (1) failed to show any resistance with the bat.
For the Qalandars, Tayyab Abbas (2-23) scooped up two wickets.
Sikandar Raza (1-23), Shaheen Shah Afridi (1-37), and Zaman Khan (1-41) took a scalp apiece.
Ahsan Hafeez (0-17) and David Wiese (0-28) remained wicketless.
LAHORE QALANDARS' INNINGS
Fakhar Zaman’s blazing 35-ball 54 and Abdullah Shafique’s brilliant 39-ball 55 steered Lahore Qalandars to 177-5 against Karachi Kings in the domestic premium tournament.
After being put into bat, the Qalandars were looking to rebound their innings following the departure of Fakhar Zaman, who finally notched up his first fifty in the ninth edition of the PSL.
Earlier, after facing an early hiccup with the loss of Mirza Baig (4 off 7), Zaman finally broke the shackles with the willow and went on to clobber five boundaries and two sixes in his 35-ball 54, before he was run out by Irfan Khan Niazi.
It was a 70-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique that provided some impetus to the Qalandars’ innings.
Sikandar Raza remained unbeaten, scoring 16-ball 22, lacing with two boundaries and one six.
David Wiese (24 off 9 deliveries) had played a fiery and unconquered cameo, studding with three sixes.
Shai Hope (9 off 11) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (1 off 3) failed to show resistance with the bat.
For the Kings, Zahid Mahmood (2-27) remained a standout bowler, scooping up two wickets.
Anwar Ali (1–36) and Blessing Muzarabani (1–40) took a scalp each.
Shoaib Malik (0-28) and Hasan Ali (0-30) remained wicketless.
TOSS
Karachi Kings had elected to field first against Lahore Qalandars in the domestic premium tournament.
TEAMS
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Abdullah Shafique, Shai Hope (wk), Sikandar Raza, Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti, David Wiese, Shaheen Afridi (c), Jahandad Khan, Zaman Khan, Tayyab Abbas
Karachi Kings: James Vince, Tim Seifert (wk), Shan Masood (c), Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard, Irfan Khan Niazi, Anwar Ali, Arafat Minhas, Hassan Ali, Zahid Mehmood, Blessing Muzarabani