Karachi Kings crush Lahore Qalandars by 67 runs
KARACHI (92 News) - Karachi Kings steamrolled Lahore Qalandars to record their biggest win in the HBL Pakistan Super League history – by 67 runs – at the National Bank Cricket Arena on Sunday evening.
Chasing an imposing 186, Lahore Qalandars, playing their second match after defeating Multan Sultans in the opener, were all out for 118 in 17.3 overs. This is Karachi Kings’ first win in four matches this edition.
Karachi Kings’ decision to open with overseas openers in Matthew Wade and James Vince paid dividends as the pair posted the side’s highest Powerplay score of this edition – 61 for none. Wade and Vince had set a perfect platform for their side to post a towering total before their 71-run partnership came to a halt because of a run out at the start of the eighth over with Wade falling short in his bid to take the second run. The Australian wicketkeeper-batter made 36 off 24.
A 32-run partnership between Vince and Haider Ali (18 off 16) followed that denied the visiting bowlers further inroads. A flurry of wickets reduced Karachi Kings to 124 for four from 102 for one with Haider, Shoaib Malik (10 off seven) and Vince (46 off 36) walking back to the pavilion.
Lahore Qalandars, however, failed to make the most of this turnaround and Imad Wasim, the Karachi Kings skipper, once again displayed the explosive side of his batsmanship with a splendid 35 not out off 19, studded with two sixes and as many fours. He was duly supported by Ben Cutting, 20 off 19, as the pair added 52 off 35 and lifted the home side to 185 for five.
Lahore Qalandars had a decent beginning to the run chase with Fakhar Zaman and Mirza Tahir Baig racing their side to 40, before the former was bowled by Aamer Yamin at 4.2 overs mark. Muhammad Irfan Khan took a marvellous catch at backward point in the next over off Mohammad Amir to restrict Shai Hope’s stay to just two balls, off which he scored one, as the problems now compounded for the Qalandars.
A 41-run partnership between Tahir and Kamran Ghulam (23 off 22) followed, but the pair failed to keep up with the scoring rate. One after the other, both batters were sent back to the pavilion by Akif Javed in the 13th over and when Kamran, the last of the two, was caught, Lahore Qalandars required 99 off only 44.
That proved to be the turning point of the match and from there on, no Lahore Qalandars batter could put up resistance. Akif finished with four for 28. Aamer and Cutting took two wickets each.
Lahore has a chance to avenge the defeat when the two teams meet in Lahore on 12 March – the last match of the league stage.
Scores in brief:
Karachi Kings 185-5, 20 overs (James Vince 46, Matthew Wade 36, Imad Wasim 35 not out, Ben Cutting 20)
Lahore Qalandars 118 all out, 17.3 overs (Mirza Tahir Baig 45, Kamran Ghulam 23; Akif Javed 4-28, Ben Cutting 2-12, Aamer Yamin 2-18)
Player of the match – Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings)
Monday’s fixture
1900 – Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi at the National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi.
