LAHORE: Kieron Pollard’s blistering half-century helped Karachi Kings edge past Lahore Qalandars in a thrilling Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 clash at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Set to chase 176, Karachi Kings held on to their nerves to chase the total on the final ball with Mir Hamza taking the single to seal the deal.
However, they had a turbulent start to the chase as they lost early wickets and slipped to 44-4 in the power play.
Experienced batters Shoaib Malik and Pollard then joined hands to take Karachi Kings out of the trouble as they knitted a solid 95-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Pollard was the core aggressor of the partnership, smashing five sixes and a four on his way to a 33-ball knock of 58 runs before he miscued one to Shaheen Afridi which landed safely in the hands of Rassie van der Dussen.
Meanwhile, Malik played the anchor’s role with 39 off 32 with the help of three boundaries until he tried to shift gears but fell prey to Haris Rauf.
Lahore Qalandars attempted to force a comeback with timely wickets but Irfan Khan stayed firm keeping the scoreboard moving and took the match to the last over.
With 11 needed off the last over, Hasan Ali smashed the six off the first ball to release the pressure and rotated the strike to level the scores.
But he could not finish the game as he got out with scores levelled, bringing Hamza to the crease, who hit the winning shot.
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Ahsan Hafeez and Zaman Khan claimed two wickets for Lahore Qalandars, while Afridi, Jahandad Khan and Rauf bagged one each.
Earlier, Karachi Kings invited the home team to bat first and started brilliantly with the ball as Hamza sent Fakhar Zaman (6) back in the third over.
Sahibzada Farhan and Van der Dussen (26) then knitted an anchoring partnership of 36 runs from as many balls before Tabraiz Shamsi got his South African teammate lbw while attempting a slog sweep.
Farhan stayed firm amidst economical bowling by Karachi Kings, which reduced Lahore Qalandars to 90-4 inside 13 overs.
Shai Hope then played a quick cameo of 21 runs from 13 balls featuring one six and two boundaries before he attempted to clear the boundary again only to get caught by Malik.
George Linde joined Farhan with the scoreboard reading 121-6 but they turned things around with a quick 54-run partnership from 26 balls to lift the team’s total to 175 in their allocated 20 overs.
Farhan carried his bat through the innings with an unbeaten 72 off 45, which included four boundaries and as many sixes.
Meanwhile, Linde scored 26 runs at a strike rate of 200 with the help of three boundaries including one six.
For Karachi Kings, Hamza, Shamsi and Hasan Ali claimed two wickets each.
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