PSL 2017: Quetta Gladiators outclass Karachi Kings

DUBAI: Ahmed Shehzad (54) and Asad Shafiq (51) hit half centuries as Quetta Gladiators booked their place in playoff on Friday by beating Karachi Kings by 6 wickets in a match of Pakistan Super League at Dubai International Stadium.

Quetta chased down the155-run target in the 19th over with captin Sarfaraz hitting the winning runs.

Mehmudullah was declared Man of the Match for all-round performance with both bat and ball.

Pietersen failed to score in this match and got run out without scoring. Captain Sarfraz scored 19 runs. Sohail Khan grabbed 2 wickets.

Another win for @TeamQuetta top of the table thats where we want to be!

— Rilee Rossouw (@Rileerr) February 23, 2017

Earlier on, Mahmudullah and Anwar Ali bagged five wickets between them as Quetta Gladiators restricted Karachi Kings to 154/6.

At one stage, Karachi Kings were struggling to cross 140, but some late hitting by Kieron Pollard in the final over guided Kings to a respectable total of 154. The West Indian all-rounder made a 19-ball 31 hitting three fours and one six.

Babar Azam (36), Kumar Sangakkara (28) and Chris Gayle (29) all got starts, but failed to convert them into big scores.

The match got under way at 9:00pm according to Pakistan Standard Time.

Sarfraz Ahmed said that Karachi Kings were a strong side on paper and they would try to beat them on the field.

.@TeamQuetta win toss elect to bowl #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #KKvQG pic.twitter.com/mGe7Ab299G

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 23, 2017

Quetta Gladiators made three changes in the side while Karachi Kings fielded an unchanged side.

Kumar Sangakkara’s men must win this match to stay alive in the competition while Gladiators, who are already sitting on top of the points table, will be through to play-off stage if they emerge as winner.

Karachi Kings will be hoping that their biggest import Chris Gayle hits the form in the crucial tie.

Message by @henrygayle for #KarachiKings fans and supporters #KarachiJeeteGa #DhanDhanaDhanHogaRe! pic.twitter.com/GDoF5ZMY5u

— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) February 23, 2017

The West Indian player, who has healthy average in all other leagues of the world, has struggled to make any impact in the PSL.

Teams

Quetta have T Mills, Asad Shafiq and Hamza Mir in for Nasim, Zulfiqar Babar and Thisara Perera: Asad Shafiq, Ahmed Shehzad, K Pietersen, R Rossouw, Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Anwar Ali, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Khan, Mir Hamza, TS Mills,

Karachi Kings (unchanged): Babar Azam, K Sangakkara (c & wk), C Gayle, Shoaib Malik, R Bopara, K Pollard, Imad Wasim, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Amir, Usama Mir, Usman Khan – SAMAA