Amir hat-trick sets up big Karachi win

By our correspondents

February 06, 2016

DUBAI: Fast bowler Mohammad Amir stole the limelight on the second day of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), taking a hat-trick to power Karachi Kings to a seven-wicket victory against Lahore Qalandars here on Friday.

Amir made his international comeback in the recent series against New Zealand, but by his own bowling coach Waqar Younis’ admission, “was not at his best, but getting there”.

On Friday, he bowled Dwayne Bravo’s middle stump, had Zohaib Khan caught behind, and trapped Kevon Cooper lbw in the 19th over, restricting Lahore to a below-par 125 for 8.

However, even before Amir’s blows, Lahore were struggling to build any momentum, motoring about at barely six an over. Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with a 31-ball 37, but lacked support from the other end, as Chris Gayle, Azhar Ali, Cameron Delport and Sohaib Maqsood failed to make good on their starts.

Karachi had little trouble knocking off the small total, as despite losing two early wickets, fifties from Lendl Simmons and Shakib Al Hasan guided the team home inside 16 overs.

Simmons struck eight fours and two sixes for his 62 not out, while Shakib’s 35-ball 51 featured three fours and sixes each. The two added 109 runs for the third wicket.

On Thursday night, 21-year-old left-arm all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz took 4 for 13 to set up Quetta Gladiators’ eight-wicket victory over Islamabad United.

Quetta’s captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s decision to bowl paid dividends as his new-ball bowlers kept Islamabad tied down for much of the innings. None of the top five batsmen were able to cross 15 runs and Nawaz was responsible for dismissing three of them.

Nawaz has already been earmarked as a future prospect. He took 11 wickets in five matches and struck a half-century while playing for Pakistan ‘A’ in the recent series against England Lions at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy ground in Dubai.

Islamabad were 63 for 6 in the 15th over when their captain Misbah-ul-Haq (41 off 28) and Andre Russell (35 off 20) slammed 57 runs in 27 balls to give some respectability to the total. Russell caned Umar Gul for three fours and a six in the 18th over and Misbah carved Anwar Ali, who had bowled a maiden to kickstart the PSL, for three fours in the 19th over.

Gladiators’ Luke Wright finished unbeaten with 86 off 53 balls with 11 fours and four sixes to wrap the match up with 24 balls to spare.

Score Board

Karachi Kings won toss

Lahore Qalandars

C H Gayle c Vince b Shoaib 6

*Azhar Ali b Shakib 18

C S Delport run out 17

Sohaib Maqsood c Bopara b Imad 22

†M Rizwan b Sohail 37

D J Bravo b Amir 14

Zohaib Khan c Saifullah b Amir 0

K K Cooper lbw b Amir 0