Karachi Kings reach PSL 2020 final after thrilling super over victory against Multan Sultans

The tournament has returned to action after an eight-month gap.

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Karachi Kings have confirmed their place in the final of Pakistan Super League 2020 after beating Multan Sultans in the Super Over in the Qualifier of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 at the National Stadium Karachi (NSK).

Multan Sultans scored a disappointing 141-7 in their allotted 20 overs. Top bowling from the Karachi Kings restricted the Sultans batsmen who apart from Bopara (40) never really got going. A late flourish from Sohail Tanvir 25* gave them some hope though.

In reply, Karachi Kings just got to 141-8 off the last ball, securing a super over. Top bowling from Sohail Tanvir 3-25 and Imran Tahir 1-22 restricted the Kings batsmen throughout their innings. Veteran paceman Sohail Tanvir was the chief destroyer of the Kings  line-up as he snaffled four scalps in his brutal four-over spell.

Tanvir kick-started the collapse by removing half-centurion Babar Azam for 65 off 53 balls. Karachi thus lost four wickets for six runs as the batsmen were found wanting of reckless strokeplay. 

In the super over, Karachi Kings scored 13-2 leaving the Sultans 14 runs to win. Mohammad Amir bowled a tense over (with a couple of wides) to smother the run chase, with six required off the last ball from Rilee Rossouw which he failed to do and Karachi Kings won by 5 runs.

Mohammad Amir delivered a stunning over comprising of pinpoint yorkers to defend 13 runs in the six-ball shootout.

Standing tall in the high pressure situation, Amir kept his calm to deny Ravi Bopara the room to free their arms and find gaps.

Despite giving away a couple of wides, Amir rectified his length to dart in brilliant thunderbolts as Multan Sultans fell short of Karachi Kings  Super Over score by four runs.

Karachi Kings go through to their first Final and Multan Sultans will meet the winners of the next match between Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalanders.

The tournament has returned to action after an eight-month gap, as it was postponed on 17 March due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The winner of the Qualifier will confirm a berth in the much-anticipated final, to be played on November 17, while the losing team will await the winner of the Eliminator 1 – to be played between Qalandars and Zalmi – in the Eliminator 2, which is scheduled for Sunday evening.

The loser of the Qalandars-Zalmi game will be eliminated. All four squads in the playoffs have been rejigged with international and local stars joining the sides and all aiming to guide their franchises to glory.

Multan Sultans

Sultans topped the table at the end of the double-league round-robin group-stage by winning six matches. While two of their matches ended in no-result due to rain, they faced losses in the other two.

Captain Shan Masood occupies the sixth spot in the list for the tournament’s highest run-getters with 253 runs at 31.62 and a strike-rate of 128.42.

Among the bowlers, Sohail Tanvir and Imran Tahir occupy the fourth and fifth spot having taken 10 wickets each at 15.30 and 18.60 respectively.

Shan is confident his team has the desired firepower to win the tournament.

Shan Masood: “We are very excited to be back. We had a very good run in the group stage. The beauty of the HBL PSL has always been the playoffs as it gives everyone an equal opportunity of winning the prestigious trophy and we are really looking forward to it.

“Obviously playing the Qualifier gives us an added advantage. We have to make sure that we get out of the blocks quickly and hopefully win that first game and go to the final directly. As a squad, we are very happy despite the setbacks, due to Covid-19, as we have lost Mahmudullah and James Vince, while Moeen Ali is on national duty.

“But, we have got quality replacements in Joe Denly, Brendan Taylor and Adam Lyth. Denly has been a super white-ball player for England in the last few years and he has had a good HBL PSL 2018. Brendan Taylor is one of the most experienced white-ball batsmen in world cricket at present and he has played well in the recent series. Adam Lyth is a good attacking opener.

“These additions will help add value to our squad.”

Karachi Kings

Imad Wasim-led Kings took the second spot by registering five wins out. They lost four matches and their one fixture was washed out.

Kings possess one of the most exciting top-orders in the playoffs with Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam joined by England’s Alex Hales.

The recently appointed all-format Pakistan captain Babar heads the tournament run-getters list with 345 runs in nine innings at 49.28 with the help of three half-centuries.

Among the bowlers, Mohammad Amir is placed at number six with 10 wickets in nine matches at 26.20.

Karachi Kings captain Imad Wasim: “We are preparing well and our camp has went well with our overseas players adding great value as always. We have gelled well as a unit; our focus is definitely on winning the Qualifier and qualifying for the final at the first attempt. We can’t control the result but we can give it our best shot.

“I want to also congratulate the management for organising the playoffs in Pakistan in a challenging environment, which is indeed a big effort.

“Karachi is our home ground and we have played very well here, the crowd support really spurs us on and we will miss the crowd yet playing in Karachi has its own unique fun and flavour. The conditions, pitch, atmosphere and the weather suits us and we are very happy to play the playoffs on our home turf.”

Squads

Multan Sultans: Zeeshan Ashraf (wk), Adam Lyth (England), Shan Masood (capt), Rilee Rossouw (South Africa), Ravi Bopara (England), Khushdil Shah, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Ilyas, Imran Tahir(South Africa), Mohammad Irfan

Karachi Kings: Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Alex Hales (England), Wayne Parnell (South Africa), Chadwick Walton (wk) (West Indies), Imad Wasim (capt), Iftikhar Ahmed, Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Mohammad Amir, Arshad Iqbal, Waqas Maqsood