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LAHORE: Abdullah Shafique’s and Fakhar Zaman’s enterprising knocks powered Lahore Qalandars to a victory over Karachi Kings in the Eliminator of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Set to chase a 191-run target, Lahore Qalandars comfortably knocked the winning runs on the loss of four wickets with eight balls to spare.
Lahore Qalandars had a similar start to Karachi Kings as they scored 42 runs in the first four overs, until Mohammad Naeem’s wicket. He was caught on long-on after scoring 14 off 12 with the help of a boundary and a six.
Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman partnered with Abdullah Shafique to ensure that the required run rate remains under control.
The notable highlight of his innings was emerging bowler Fawad Ali’s over, in which he scored 16 runs, which brought the score to 60-1 at the end of the powerplay.
However, Fakhar fell on the first ball of the ninth over, after scoring 47 off 28 balls, laced with three sixes and five boundaries.
The wicket did bring the Kings back into the game, but it was Abdullah Shafique’s and Kusal Perar’s stand that took the game away from them. The duo stitched an 83-run partnership, bringing the score to 158 in 15.2 overs.
Abdullah Shafique fell for an enterprising 35-ball 65 runs, with the help of five sixes and four fours. Perera, on the other end, remained firm and forged a brief stand with his counterpart, Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
He perished in the 19th over after scoring 30 off 24 balls, featuring two sixes and a four, while Rajapaksa struck a six to take his team home.
For Karachi Kings, Hasan Ali bagged two wickets while Fawad Ali and Mir Hamza made one scalp apiece.
Earlier, David Warner’s brisk knock and Khushdil Shah’s cameo powered Karachi Kings to an impressive total
Opting to bat first, Kings posted 190 for the loss of eight wickets in their allocated 20 overs.
The Kings’ openers provided a strong start as they raced to 43 at the end of four overs, losing Tim Seifert in the process.
David Warner was the core aggressor, while Seifert (16 off eight) did well to hold one end firm.
James Vince joined Warner, notching up a 31-run stand, bringing the score to 74 at the end of the seventh over. Vince was caught on deep mid-wicket off Shakib Al Hasan’s bowling.
The wicket, however, did not halt the Kings’ momentum as Warner’s onslaught continued, thanks to drop catches from the Qalandars. Saad Baig was the next to go, falling cheaply on the score of 11, reducing Karachi Kings to 99-3 at the end of the 11th over.
Following the dismissal, in-form batter Irfan Khan partnered with Warner, adding a 38-run stand for the fifth wicket. The partnership set the tone for a big total as the Kings reached 137 in 14.3 overs.
At this moment, Lahore Qalandars came back into the game despite sloppy fielding, removing Irfan Khan and well well-set David Warner in successive overs.
Irfan went after scoring 18 off 12 while Warner was finally caught on 75 off 52 balls, an innings peppered with eight fours and three sixes.
The middle overs jolted Kings’ scoring rate as they reached 163 in the 18th over as Qalandars struck twice, first removing Mohammad Nabi (16 off 10) and then Abbas Afridi (2 off two).
However, it was Khushdil Shah’s 14-ball 27 that took Karachi Kings to a strong total. He smashed three fours and two sixes in an enterprising knock.
For Lahore Qalandars, Haris Rauf was the standout bowler, taking three for 35 in his quota of four overs, while Shaheen Afridi scalped two wickets.
PLAYING XIs
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Kusal Perera (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shakib Al Hasan, Asif Ali, Shaheen Afridi (cap), Salman Mirza, Zaman Khan, Haris Rauf
Karachi Kings: David Warner (cap), Tim Seifert (wk), James Vince, Saad Baig, Khushdil Shah, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mohammad Nabi, Fawad Ali, Abbas Afridi, Hassan Ali, Mir Hamza
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