Babar fights out but Multan Sultans overcome Karachi Kings

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Abu Dhabi: Babar Azam fought hard for Karachi Kings but Multan Sultans bowled tight to win the match by 12 runs. 
Babar was struggling to take runs due to his partner Sharjeel Khan, mostly known for power-hitting in the powerplay. Babar look frustrated a couple of times but made it possible to score runs for his team.


With a strike rate of 134.92, Babar scored 85 runs off 63 balls spread over five boundaries and four sixes.


Sent into bat first, Khushdil Shah guided Sultans to 176/5 in 20 overs in 16th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six.
The hard-hitting batter scored at a strike rate of 137.50 and remained unbeaten on 44 off 32. In the last over, the southpaw stroked two fours and a six to Mohammad Amir.


Earlier, Multan Sultans lost debutant Rahmanullah Gurbaz (3) in the first over after put into bat by Kings’ captain Imad Wasim.
Wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton stumped Gurbaz as he tried to get back but was short of the crease.


Sohaib Maqsood joined captain Mohammad Rizwan in the middle. He smacked 24 off Imad’s second over. He was undone by Waqas Maqsood in the following over. Sohaib scored 14 off 31 balls with the help of five fours and a six.


The tempo set by Sohaib was taken forward by Rilee Rossouw. The South Africa-born hammered 44 off 24 balls with the help of seven fours. Sultans had reached to 100-run mark in the 10th over. Thisara Perera took the price wicket of Rossouw in his first over.


In the same over, Rizwan (29 off 23) had to depart courtesy of a brilliant fielding by Najibullah Zadran. He tried to take the second run but Walton finished the run-out impressively to remove Sultans’ skipper. Rizwan’s supporting role came to an end on a score of 109.
Kings’ bowlers hold the proceedings from 12th to 15th over. Sultans managed to add 21 in four overs and also lost the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer.
Kings’ managed to contain Sultans till the 18th over but Sultans added 28 off the last two. They finished on 176/5 in 20 overs.
For Kings, Perera bagged 2/12 while Imad and Waqas bagged one each. Mohammad Amir gave away 42 in his four overs while debutant off-spinner Qasim Akram conceded 34.
In reply, Kings lost Sharjeel earlier on a run-out followed by Martin Guptill and Najibullah Zadran falling part after scoring 11 runs each.


Babar partnered with Chadwick Walton to score 77 runs together but Sultans’ bowlers kept things tight. Walton made 35 with the help of four boundaries and a six. Babar remained not out for 85.


Thisara Perera and Imad Wasim walked off for naught whilst Qasim Akram played just three balls and struck a boundary and a six.
Imran Khan Sr bagged three wickets while Imran Tahir took a wicket each.

Teams

Karachi Kings: Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Martin Guptill, Najibullah Zadran, Thisara Perera, Chadwick Walton (wk), Imad Wasim (c), Qasim Akram, Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Amir, Waqas Maqsood
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Shimron Hetmyer, Khushdil Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Imran Tahir, Imran Khan

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