Hasan Ali’s four-for and Tim Seifert’s solid 31-ball 49 powered Karachi Kings to a comfortable seven-wicket victory against Quetta Gladiators in the 22nd match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.
KARACHI KINGS’ INNINGS
Chasing a target of 119, the Kings completed the equation with 27 balls remaining.
Captain Shan Masood continued to struggle with the bat and was removed by pacer Mohammad Amir on 8-ball 7.
But it was the pair of New Zealander and Englishman, Tim Seifert and James Vince, who provided impetus to the Kings’ innings.
Seifert and Vince racked up 39-ball 50. The partnership was broken by West Indian spinner Akeal Hosein. Vince scored 28-ball-27.
Abrar Ahmed removed Tim Seifert (49 off 31 balls). Seifert clobbered two sixes and one boundary.
But it was the experience of Shoaib Malik, who ensured the Kings swept past the Gladiators. Malik had remained unbeaten on 20-ball 27, whacking two boundaries.
Irfan Khan Niazi remained unbeaten on 6-ball 4.
For the Gladiators, Akeal Hosein (1-24), Abrar Ahmed (1-24) and Mohammad Amir (1-23) took a scalp apiece.
Usman Tariq (0-23), who had bagged two wickets against the Kings in the last outing, remained wicketless.
Mohammad Hasnain (0-24) remained wicketless.
QUETTA GLADIATORS’ INNINGS
After being put into bat, none of the Gladiators batters could show any significant resistance with the bat, with the exception of Saud Shakeel, who looked good for his 28-ball 33 before being removed by Hasan Ali.
The Gladiators were bundled out for 118 in the final over.
Shakeel smashed two boundaries and two towering sixes in his knock.
Jason Roy scored 8-ball 15, lacing with three boundaries before he was removed by Blessing Muzarabani. The wicket of Roy started a slide, and it went downhill thereafter.
Other batters, including Khawaja Nafay (17), Rilee Rossouw (10), Sarfaraz Ahmed (7), Sherfane Rutherford (9), Akeal Hosein (14), Mohammad Amir (2), Mohammad Hasnain (5), and Usman Tariq (1), failed to show resistance with the willow.
Abrar Ahmed remained unbeaten on 3-ball 1.
For the Kings, Hasan Al (4-15) was the standout bowler, who applied coup de grace against the Gladiators, picking up four wickets.
Hasan Ali bagged the wickets of Saud Shakeel, Khawaja Nafay, Akeal Hosein, and Mohammad Hasnain.
Zahid Mahmood (2-25) and Blessing Muzarabani (2-27) scooped up two wickets apiece.
Mir Hamza (1-25) took a scalp.
Shoaib Malik (0-24) remained wicketless, but showed great accuracy with the ball and conceded merely 24 runs.
PLAYER OF MATCH
Hasan Ali bagged player of the match award for his bowling brilliance.
