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LAHORE: David Warner’s anchoring half-century and Khushdil Shah’s late cameo steered Karachi Kings to a five-wicket victory over arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 fixture at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Set a daunting 200, Kings aced the chase in the penultimate over, thanks to Khushil Shah’s whirlwind knock.
The Kings had a shaky start as Jason Roy was caught behind in the second over. He only managed nine.
After an early blow, Reeza Hendricks tried to stabilize the innings with a brief 29-run partnership. However, the latter perished in the fifth over after scoring 10.
As a result, Kings were reduced to 39-2 in 4.3 overs.
The wicket brought Salman Ali Agha to the crease, who was dropped on nought in the same over.
Qalandars continued to squeeze the runs flow that reaped reward in the eighth over when Agha was caught after scoring 15 off 14.
However, following the third wicket, Moeen Ali joined Warner, and the pair added 58 runs off just 32 balls, taking the score to 127 in 13.5 overs. Moeen smashed four sixes and a boundary on his way to 39 off 17 balls.
But it was Khushdil Shah’s knock that blew Qalandars away. He struck 44* off 14 balls, hammering five sixes and two fours, including a 23-run over off Shaheen Afridi that reduced the equation from 34 off 18 to 12 from the last two overs.
He finished the match with back-to-back sixes off Haris Rauf’s penultimate over to seal a thrilling win. Meanwhile, skipper Warner remained unbeaten on 63 from 44 balls, hitting nine fours and a six.
For Lahore Qalandars, Ubaid Shah took a three-wicket haul.
Earlier, Abdullah Shafique’s and Fakhar Zaman’s brisk half-centuries propelled Lahore Qalandars to a strong total
Put into bat first, Lahore Qalandars piled up 199-6 at the end of 20 overs.
After losing Mohammad Farooq (18) in the third over, Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique forged a 110-run partnership that laid a foundation for a big total.
The pair took the attack to the Kings’ bowlers, including a 22-run over from Rizwanullah. At the end of the powerplay, Lahore Qalandars scorecard read 57-1.
The defending champions continued their charge and kept the momentum going till the halfway mark of the innings.
The stand eventually culminated in the 15th over when Moeen Ali was caught after scoring 61 off 41, including three sixes and five fours. The wicket slowed down Qalandars progress as the visitors kept them in check.
The pressure brought back-to-back wickets in the 16th and 17th over, that too off Charith Asalanka (0) and set batter Shafique.
Abdullah made 62 from 36 balls, laced with three sixes and five fours. As a result, Qalanders were 161-4 before a crucial cameo from Daniel Sams took them to a strong total.
He hit 20 off nine balls, hitting two sixes to take his side near the 200-run mark.
For Karachi Kings, Moeen Ali remained the pick of the bowlers, who took two wickets.
READ: Karachi Kings’ Talent Hunt Prodigy Rizwanullah makes PSL Debut
