Karachi Kings Snatch Victory as Hasan Ali’s Late Burst Breaks Quetta Gladiators
LAHORE: A composed late surge from Moeen Ali and a match-winning spell by Hasan Ali powered Karachi Kings to a hard-fought 14-run win over Quetta Gladiators in the second fixture of Pakistan Super League season 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Chasing 182, the Gladiators managed 167 for seven in their allotted overs, despite a blazing start provided by young opener Shamyl Hussain.
Hussain, alongside captain Saud Shakeel, gave Quetta early momentum with a rapid 79-run opening stand in just seven overs. The breakthrough came via Salman Ali Agha, who dismissed Hussain after his explosive 52 off 24 balls, which included five boundaries and four sixes.
Quetta’s innings lost direction soon after, with quick dismissals of Khawaja Nafay and Shakeel, removed by Adam Zampa and Moeen respectively. Shakeel contributed a steady 33 off 25 deliveries.
A rebuilding effort followed through a cautious 29-run stand between Rilee Rossouw (25) and Hasan Nawaz, but Rossouw’s dismissal early in the 16th over shifted momentum back to Karachi.
Nawaz struggled for fluency and was eventually dismissed by Hasan Ali in the 19th over after scoring 19 off 24 balls. Hasan then delivered a decisive blow, striking twice more in the same over to remove Tom Curran and Ahmed Daniyal, effectively sealing the contest.
Despite a late unbeaten cameo from Ben McDermott, who scored 24, Quetta fell short of the target.
Hasan Ali was the standout performer with figures of 4 for 27, while Zampa, Moeen, and Agha chipped in with a wicket each.
Earlier, Karachi posted 181 for seven after being asked to bat first, with contributions spread across the lineup rather than a single dominant innings.
The innings began on a shaky note as Muhammad Waseem departed without scoring, falling to Alzarri Joseph in the opening over.
A quickfire 41-run stand between Salman Ali Agha and captain David Warner steadied the innings before Agha was trapped lbw by Daniyal after scoring 22 off 10 balls.
Warner then added another valuable 43 runs with Saad Baig, but both batters fell in quick succession, leaving Karachi at 100 for four midway through the innings. Warner made 35, while Baig chipped in with a fluent 30.
Azam Khan added 14 before being dismissed by Usman Tariq, triggering a brief middle-order wobble.
The innings was revived by Moeen Ali, who anchored the closing stages and stitched a crucial 39-run stand with Khushdil Shah. Moeen remained unbeaten on 48 off 29 balls, striking four fours and three sixes to lift Karachi to a competitive total.
For Quetta, Ahmed Daniyal led the bowling effort with three wickets, while Joseph claimed two, and Tariq and Abrar Ahmed picked up one each.
