Karachi eye Quetta scalp to stay in hunt for title

KARACHI: Karachi Kings will look to shoot down table-toppers Quetta Gladiators here at the National Stadium on Sunday (today) in a bid to stay in hunt for the HBL Pakistan Super League title.

The Kings need a victory against Quetta to boost their chances of reaching the play-off stages of the league’s season 4.

Languishing at fourth place in the league, Karachi are still fancying their chances of playing the 17 March final on their home ground and before their home fans — a chance they squandered last year after going down in the eliminator to eventual champions Islamabad United.

Karachi can go on to finish as one of the top two teams, if they also beat Peshawar Zalmi (Monday) and overhaul their net run-rate.

Karachi would be hoping that their star import Colin Munro, regarded as one of the most destructive hitters in Twenty20 cricket regains his touch in the big game. Munro has so far contributed just 33 runs at 6.60 with a highest of 15. Besides Munro, world’s top batsman in T20Is Babar Azam also needs to return to his best. Babar scored two fifties earlier in the ongoing season but has managed just 11 and 19 in the last two matches.

Karachi has historically struggled against both Quetta and Peshawar — their opponents in the next two matches — having lost five games in seven with just two wins against Sarfraz Ahmed’s Gladiators. They however turned the tables against Quetta in this year’s event on the back of a brilliant 127 not out by Colin Ingram during their successful chase of a stiff 187-run target in Sharjah.

Karachi have eight points from eight games and are currently placed fourth in the table. Quetta are perched at the top with 14 points in nine games and are assured of a two top finish.

Quetta are also boosted by the presence of former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson who agreed to tour Karachi after turning down the tour in the last two years. He currently leads the run scoring chart of the event with 332 including three fifties and a phenomenal strike rate of 141.27.

Quetta’s coach Moin Khan admitted Watson’s arrival is a big boost.

“Naturally the top players have an importance and that gives us an additional boost,” said Moin, a member of Pakistan’s World Cup winning team in 1992.

“Naturally it’s good for the team and for every individual it’s a great opportunity and sense of security that Shane Watson is also there. But at the same time it’s a team game and it doesn’t depend on individuals.”

Besides Watson, Rilee Rossouw (235 in nine games), Umar Akmal (228) and opener Ahmed Shehzad (153) are also in good nick.

Quetta’s bowling, led by the ever-green Sohail Tanvir is one of the best. Tanvir is second on the table with 14 wickets, four short of leader Peshawar’s Hasan Ali. Spinners Mohammad Nawaz (ten) and Fawad Ahmed (nine) give the attack more variety.

Karachi’s batting is led by England’s Liam Livingstone who has 280 runs with three 50s and at a strike rate of 134.61. Ingram has so far scored 226 at a strike rate of 154.79.

Ingram, vice-captain of Kings, hoped this year could be team’s chance to play the last stages before the home fans.

“It was disappointing to lose and not being able to qualify for the second qualifier last year,” said Ingram.

“Coming into the back end of the tournament it would be great to repeat that same innings I played (against Quetta) ,” said Ingram of his hundred. “It’s a beautiful venue and its inspiring.”

Karachi will also hope that their pace attack of Mohammad Amir, Usman Shinwari, Sohail Khan and Aaron Summers get them wickets. Shinwari returned to his best in the last match, claiming four wickets.