Lahore Qalandars crush Karachi Kings to continue winning momentum in PSL

Staff Report

 KARACHI: Lahore Qalandars claimed a thumping 65-run win over Karachi Kings in the sixth match of HBL PSL X here at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Tuesday night with the help of explosive half-centuries from Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rishad Hossain bowled nagging spells, taking three wickets each to dismiss the home side for 136 in 19.1 overs as they fell short of the challenging 202-run target. Qalandars skipper Shaheen continued his knack of striking in the first over, removing his counterpart David Warner and James Vince, the centurion from the last match, for ducks. Leg-spinner Rishad extended Qalandars’ dominance further by taking the wickets of Shan Masood (18, 14b, 3x4s) and Tim Seifert (18, 22b, 3x4s) to add to the Kings’ woes. Karachi lost half their side in the first eight overs with 46 runs on the board, leaving an improbable task for the lower middle-order.

Khushdil Shah and Hasan Ali showed some fight by forging a 48-run partnership towards the end for the eighth wicket. Hasan hit 27 off 25 balls whereas Khushdilwas Kings’ top-scorer with 39 from 27 deliveries with four boundaries and two maximums. Sikandar Raza wrapped up the innings by removing last batter Adam Milne for 16 to give Qalandars their second win of the season. Earlier, Qalandars recovered from two quick top-order wickets thanks to a commanding 76 off 47 balls (6x4s, 5x6s) from Fakhar and a 41-ball inclusive of nine fours and two sixes (9x4s, 2x6s) by Mitchell. The duo ransacked 125 runs in 70 balls for the third wicket and shifted the momentum in Qalandars’ favour with a flurry of boundaries. Kings’ Hasan stood out with a four-wicket haul, giving away 28 runs in his four overs. However, a later flourish from Sikandar (10 not out, 5b, 2x4s) and Sam Billings (19, 10, 2x4s, 1×6) propelled Lahore past the 200-run mark, capping off a strong first-innings display.

Brief scores:

Match 6: Lahore Qalandars beat Karachi Kings by 65 runs at National Bank Stadium, Karachi

Lahore Qalandars 201-6, 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 76, Daryl Mitchell 75; Hasan Ali 4-28) vs Karachi Kings 136 all out, 19.1 overs (Khushdil Shah 39, Hasan Ali 27; Rishad Hossain 3-26, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-34)

Player of the match – Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars).