Karachi Kings secured a narrow 14-run win over Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 second match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday evening.
The Kings posted a competitive total of 181/7 in 20 overs despite none of their batters reaching a half-century, relying on timely partnerships and aggressive hitting.
Batting Struggles and Recovery
Karachi Kings lost opener Muhammad Waseem for a three-ball duck to Alzarri Joseph in the very first over, leaving the team under early pressure at three runs.
Skipper David Warner then joined Salman Ali Agha, forging a 41-run second-wicket partnership before Agha was trapped lbw by Ahmed Daniyal in the fourth over.
Warner scored a brisk 22 off 10 deliveries with four fours and one six, anchoring the innings after the team had stumbled early against Gladiators’ pace attack.
A subsequent third-wicket partnership between Warner and Saad Baig yielded 43 runs before both fell quickly, reducing the Kings to 100/4 in just over ten overs.
Azam Khan added 14 runs before Usman Tariq dismissed him in the 14th over, further testing the Kings’ middle order under mounting pressure from Gladiators’ bowlers.
Experienced all-rounder Moeen Ali played a decisive role with an unbeaten 48 off 29 deliveries, supported by Khushdil Shah in a crucial 39-run sixth-wicket partnership.
Gladiators’ Strong Start Falters
Chasing 182, Quetta Gladiators began brightly as Shamyl Hussain and captain Saud Shakeel amassed 79 runs in seven overs, setting the platform for a potential easy chase.
Hussain remained top-scorer with a blazing 52 off 24 balls, including five fours and four sixes, before Salman Ali Agha dismissed him to trigger a Gladiators’ collapse.
Following Hussain’s departure, the Gladiators lost three wickets within two overs, including Shakeel for 33 off 25 balls, and Khawaja Nafay for three runs, shifting momentum to Karachi.
Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz attempted a cautious recovery with a 29-run fourth-wicket stand, but Rossouw’s dismissal at the start of the 16th over exposed the lower middle order.
Hasan Ali dominated the death overs, claiming four wickets for 27 runs, including crucial scalps of Hasan Nawaz, Tom Curran, and Ahmed Daniyal, effectively sealing the match for Karachi.
Ben McDermott contributed an unbeaten 24-run cameo, but his late flourish could not overcome the deficit, leaving the Gladiators falling short at 167/7 after 20 overs.
