Heartbreak for Karachi as Lahore Storms into Eliminator 2
LAHORE: A well-rounded bowling performance followed by a blazing half-century from Abdullah Shafique propelled Lahore Qalandars to a dominant six-wicket win over arch-rivals Karachi Kings in Eliminator 1 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
The defeat ended Karachi Kings’ PSL 10 journey, while Qalandars move ahead to face defending champions Islamabad United in Eliminator 2 at the same venue on Friday.
Chasing a formidable 191-run target, the Qalandars made light work of the task, reaching the finish line with four wickets down and eight balls to spare.
Openers Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem provided a steady start, adding 42 runs before Naeem fell to Hasan Ali in the fifth over. He managed 14 off 12 balls, including a four and a six.
Fakhar then stitched a brief 33-run stand with Abdullah Shafique before being removed by Fawad Ali in the ninth over. The left-hander played a fluent knock of 47 off 28 deliveries, featuring five boundaries and three maximums.
After his departure, Shafique took charge of the chase with a composed and aggressive half-century. He departed in the 16th over after putting Qalandars firmly in control, needing just 33 off 28 balls. He top-scored with a brilliant 65 off 35 balls, smashing three fours and five sixes.
Shafique was well supported by Kusal Perera, who added a crucial 30 off 24 balls in an 83-run third-wicket partnership.
For Karachi, Hasan Ali was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets. Fawad Ali and Mir Hamza picked up one each.
Earlier, opting to bat first in the knockout clash, the Kings posted 190/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Their openers, David Warner and Tim Seifert, got off to a flying start, putting up 43 runs at a rapid rate. Seifert fell to Shaheen Shah Afridi in the fourth over after a quick 16 off 8 balls, hitting three boundaries.
Warner tried to anchor the innings with brief partnerships with James Vince (4), Saad Baig (11), and Mohammad Irfan Khan (18) before being dismissed by Mohammad Naeem on the first ball of the 16th over. He was the standout performer for the Kings with a composed 75 off 52 balls, peppered with eight fours and three sixes.
Karachi’s innings stuttered after Warner’s dismissal, with a flurry of wickets. However, a late flourish from Khushdil Shah gave them a boost, as he hammered an unbeaten 27 off just 14 balls, hitting three boundaries and two sixes.
Haris Rauf led the bowling charge for Lahore, claiming 3/35 in his four overs. Skipper Shaheen picked up two wickets, while Shakib Al Hasan, Naeem, and Zaman Khan grabbed one each.
