KARACHI: Karachi Kings qualified for the playoffs as Usman Shinwari bowledan extraordinary last over defending five runs in the last over, takingthree wickets and conceding just three runs.
It was arguably the best match of the fourth season of the Pakistan SuperLeague, played in front of a houseful National Stadium Karachi on Sunday,the game swung like a pendulum between the two sides as one team had anupper hand at one stage, while the other had the edge in the next moment.
Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and elected to bowl first. Karachi Kings did nothave an ideal start as Colin Munro once again failed to impress with his26-ball 30-run inning, whereas, Babar Azam scored a half-century, but itwas on a slower side keeping the wicket and short boundaries in view. Hescored 56 off 46 deliveries.
It was once again Colin Ingram and Iftikhar Ahmed, who brought KarachiKings back in the game with their onslaught, scoring 24 runs off 10deliveries and 44 off 18 balls respectively. The cameos from the duo tookKarachi Kings to a firm total of 190 runs.
Mohammad Hasnain emerged as the most successful bowler for QuettaGladiators with two wickets to his name. Whereas, Sohail Tanvir, MohammadNawaz and Fawad Ahmed took one wicket apiece.
As Gladiators came out to chase, they had an excellent start, the openingpair of Shane Watson and Ahmed Shehzad contributed 68 runs in 6.3 overstogether, before the Aussie batsman got out after scoring 20 (15).
Riley Rossouw could only score 10 off 7 balls, whereas, the man-in-form,Umar Akmal contributed 27 runs on 20 balls with the help of three 6’s.
It was once again Karachi Kings’ young intelligent spinner, Umer Khan whoperformed for his team, taking three precious wickets of Shane Watson,Riley Rossouw and Umar Akmal. He bowled an outstanding spell of 3 for 26.
It was then one-man show for Ahmed Shehzad in the rest of the game, heplayed brilliantly for his 99 runs off just 57 deliveries, keepingGladiators alive in the game, while he kept losing wickets from the otherend.
It was a tough day for Karachi Kings’ pacer, Usman Shinwari, Aamer Yaminand Sohail Khan, who conceded 43, 54 and 39 runs in their quota of fourovers.
In the seventeenth over of the inning, Usman Shinwari conceded 22 runs, buthe made an impressive comeback in the last over to defend 5 runs. Heremoved the well-settled Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed in hislast over to take Karachi Kings to play-offs.
Umer Khan remained the pick of the bowler for the Kings taking threewickets for 26, while Usman Shinwari took three wickets for 43. No otherbowler from Karachi Kings could take a wicket, but the skipper Imad Wasimbowled brilliantly, leaking just 17 runs in his quota.
Karachi Kings will take on Peshawar Zalmi at the National Stadium Karachion Monday.