Summary Kings are at the top of table with two wins.
(Dunya News) –Karachi Kings (159-7, Bopara 50, Afridi 3-19) have managed to stay at the top of the table after Shahid Afridi and Usman Shenwari ripped through Lahore Qalandars (132 all-out, McCulum 44, Narine 2-18) line-up as both shared six wickets in their allotted eight overs. This was third consecutive loss for Qalandars in Pakistan Super League (PSL-3).
Qalandars were chasing a target of 160 but they managed to score only 132 and were dismissed in the 19th over. Afridi was declared man of the match.
OUT! 18.3 Tymal Mills to Mustafizur Rahman
PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q#KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/TrQIBiAEbj
McCullum tried to lift his team with quick 44 runs despite early wicket of Narine. Afridi—with his quick variations—inflicted significant damage on Qalandars by taking three important wickets. Once he was done, Usman Shenwari took another two wickets to help Kings’ cause. He took three wickets for just 26 runs.
OUT! 10.1 Shahid Afridi to Sohail Akhtar
PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q#KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/u8c0qu7yPf
While chasing a target of 160, Lahore Qalandars lost their opener Sunil Narine in the very first over of the innings. He was dismissed on zero by left-arm medium fast Usman Shenwari.
OUT! 0.2 Usman Khan to Sunil Narine
PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q#KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/ULij3rPBek
Despite an early wicket, skipper McCullum and left-arm Fakhar Zaman hammered Kings’ bowlers all over the ground to bring 50-run partnership at cost of just 4.4 overs.
50 comes up for Lahore Qalandars!
PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q#KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/pnwpZpnKYL
After a 70 run partnership, Zaman recklessly threw away his wicket. He was dismissed on 19 by Afridi. The situation got worse after McCullum s departures shortly.
OUT! 7.1 Imad Wasim to Brendon McCullum
PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q#KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/LzSCgh0nfa
The wickets continued to fall in regular intervals and the team was eventually dismissed on 132.
Karachi Kings innings
Karachi Kings won the toss and opted to bat at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
In the onset, the decision to bat first seemed right as Kings’ openers hammered 28 runs in the first three overs.
SIX! 1.5 Shaheen Afridi to Joe Denly
PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q#KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/vEkqLGCayv
With runs flowing all over the ground, McCullum was forced to introduce leg-spinner Yasir Shah in third over and the gambit paid off. Shah removed Joe Denly. In the very next over, left-arm pace sensation of Bangladesh Mustafizur Rahman removed Babar Azam.
OUT! 4.1 Mustafizur Rahman to Babar Azam
PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q#KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/XoDcNOrmuQ
The ‘period of humiliation was extended as Sunil Narine picked Khurram Manzoor in his very first over.
In the very next over, Sunil Narine removed Khurram Manzoor to extend the period of humiliation.
OUT! 5.3 Sunil Narine to Khurram Manzoor
PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q#KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/Nkl1LK9RS2
After couple of quick wickets, both Ingram and Bopara adopted a rather safe approach as they kicked off a repairing phase. Without taking any risk and by punishing the bad deliveries, the pair added 50 runs in 7.1 overs before a stunning catch at boundary ended the dangerous partnership.
Tag team work at its finest! Umar Akmal and Shaheen Shah Afridi WHAT A CATCH! #DamaDamMast
PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
OUT! 12.5 Yasir Shah to Colin Ingram Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q #KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/8lKs0ftrbI
Adding insult to the injuries, right-arm pacer Sohail Khan took consecutive wickets in the 17th over. He removed Imad Wasim and Shahid Afridi.
OUT! 16.4 Sohail Khan to Shahid Afridi
PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q#KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/9lVEtWMaXg
With wickets falling at one end, Ravi Bopara continued to build the innings at the other end. He along with Mohammad Irfan added 42 runs in just 3.2 overs to post a challenging target of 160 runs. Bopara hit a massive six on last ball to bring his 50 in style. He consumed just 34 balls.
Karachi Kings have scored 159. Will Lahore Qalandars chase it down?
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2018
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/ib3FV3ET8Q#KKvLQ #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #Cricingif pic.twitter.com/A8eGy9Uskn
Karachi Kings suffered a major blow as their in-form bowler Mohammad Amir has been ruled out of the game due to injury. Usman Khan Shenwari has replaced the left-arm pacer.
Lahore Qalandars have lost their first two fixtures against new comers Multan Sultans and two-time finalist Quetta Gladiators. On the other hand, revamped Karachi Kings have beaten their opponents in two games they have played so far. With Net Run Rate (NRR) of +0.635, Kings are on top of the table.
Lahore XI: McCullum, Narine, Zaman, Umar Akmal, Sohail Akhtar, Ramdin, Agha, Yasir Shah, Sohail Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Mustafizur
Karachi XI: Khurram, Denly, Babar Azam, Colin Ingram, Bopara, Rizwan, Imad, Shahid Afridi, Usman Khan, Tymal Mills, Md Irfan jr
