Karachi Kings thrash Quetta Gladiators by 1 run, courtesy of Usman Shinwari who changed the game for the home team by taking three wickets in the last over, thereby taking his team to the next round of Pakistan Super League (PSL) fourth season.
While Quetta Gladiators had an outstanding innings with Ahmed Shehzad getting on the edge of his century before getting bowled out, just one run away, they couldn't keep up the pace of the Kings who performed well under pressure of qualifying for the playoffs.
Despite being given ample pressure by Quetta Gladiators who fielded remarkably, Karachi Kings managed to get a good score of 190 in the first innings.
Even with the five wickets that were knocked down, the total reached a substantial figure but not quite as incredible as the one set by Islamabad United in last night’s match of 239 runs against Lahore Qalanders.
Babar Azam and Colin Ingram delivered a fair performance for the Kings before being sent back to the hut. It was Iftikhar Ahmed who took charge in the final overs, scoring doubles, boundaries and sixers to reach the final tally of 190 with the loss of five wickets.
Karachi's win today is making things even moer difficult for Lahore Qalanders who's chances of going to the next round are getting slimmer.
End of live coverage
End of Quetta Gladiators innings: 189/7
Usman Shinwari to Sohail Tanvir, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Sarfaraz Ahmed, OUT
Usman Shinwari to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Anwar Ali, OUT
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, OUT, 1 run away from 100
Usman Shinwari to Anwar Ali, 1 run
End of over 19: Quetta Gladiators: 186/4 (Target: 191)
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, FOUR
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 wide
Aamer Yamin to Anwar Ali, 1 run
Aamer Yamin to Anwar Ali, 1 wide
Aamer Yamin to Anwar Ali, 1 wide
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run, Dwayne is run OUT
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, SIX
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 wide
Aamer Yamin to Dwayne Bravo, 1 run
End of over 18: Quetta Gladiators: 168/3 (Target: 191)
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, 1 run
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, no run
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, no run
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, no run
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, no run
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, FOUR
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, 1 wide
End of over 17: Quetta Gladiators: 162/3 (Target: 191)
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, SIX
Usman Shinwari to Dwayne Bravo, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, SIX
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, SIX
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 wide
Usman Shinwari to Dwayne Bravo, 1 run
End of over 16: Quetta Gladiators: 140/3 (Target: 191)
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, 1 run
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, no run
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, no run
Sohail Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, 1 run
Sohail Khan to Dwayne Bravo, 1 wide
Sohail Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
End of over 15: Quetta Gladiators: 135/3 (Target: 191)
Umer Khan to Dwayne Bravo, no run
Umer Khan to Dwayne Bravo, no run
Umer Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Umer Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, no run
Umer Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, FOUR
Umer Khan to Umar Akmal, OUT, Yamin takes the catch
Umer Khan to Umar Akmal, 1 wide
End of over 14: Quetta Gladiators: 129/2 (Target: 191)
Aamer Yamin to Umar Akmal, 1 run
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 2 runs
Aamer Yamin to Umar Akmal, 1 run, catch dropped
Aamer Yamin to Umar Akmal, SIX
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
End of over 13: Quetta Gladiators: 117/2 (Target: 191)
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Umar Akmal, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, no run
Usman Shinwari to Umar Akmal, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
End of over 12: Quetta Gladiators: 112/2 (Target: 191)
Sohail Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Sohail Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, SIX
Sohail Khan to Umar Akmal, 1 run
Sohail Khan to Umar Akmal, no run
Sohail Khan to Umar Akmal, SIX
Sohail Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
End of over 11: Quetta Gladiators: 97/2 (Target: 191)
Umer Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Umer Khan to Umar Akmal, 1 run
Umer Khan to Umar Akmal, no run
Umer Khan to Umar Akmal, no run
Umer Khan to Umar Akmal, SIX
Umer Khan to Umar Akmal, no run
End of over 10: Quetta Gladiators: 89/2 (Target: 191)
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, no run
Imad Wasim to Umar Akmal, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Umar Akmal, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Umar Akmal, no run
Imad Wasim to Umar Akmal, no run
End of over 9: Quetta Gladiators: 86/2 (Target: 191)
Umer Khan to Umar Akmal, 1 run
Umer Khan to Umar Akmal, no run
Umer Khan to Rilee Rossouw, OUT
Umer Khan to Rilee Rossouw, SIX
Umer Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Umer Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 wide
Umer Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, no run
End of over 8: Quetta Gladiators: 75/1 (Target: 191)
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Rilee Rossouw, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Rilee Rossouw, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Rilee Rossouw, 1 run
End of over 7: Quetta Gladiators: 69/1 (Target: 191)
Umer Khan to Rilee Rossouw, 1 run
Umer Khan to Rilee Rossouw, no run
Umer Khan to Rilee Rossouw, no run
Umer Khan to Shane Watson, OUT, Ali Imran takes the catch
Umer Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Umer Khan to Shane Watson, 1 run
End of over 6: Quetta Gladiators: 66/0 (Target: 191)
Aamer Yamin to Shane Watson, 1 run
Aamer Yamin to Shane Watson, FOUR
Aamer Yamin to Shane Watson, SIX
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 2 runs
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, FOUR
End of over 5: Quetta Gladiators: 48/0 (Target: 191)
Imad Wasim to Shane Watson, no run
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, FOUR
Imad Wasim to Shane Watson, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Shane Watson, 4 leg byes
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
End of over 4: Quetta Gladiators: 37/0 (Target: 191)
Sohail Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Sohail Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, no run
Sohail Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, FOUR
Sohail Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, SIX
Sohail Khan to Shane Watson, 1 run
Sohail Khan to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
End of over 3: Quetta Gladiators: 24/0 (Target: 191)
Aamer Yamin to Shane Watson, 2 runs
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, no run
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 wide
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 wide
Aamer Yamin to Shane Watson, 1 run
Aamer Yamin to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Aamer Yamin to Shane Watson, 1 run
End of over 2: Quetta Gladiators: 16/0 (Target: 191)
Usman Shinwari to Shane Watson, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, no run
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, FOUR
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, FOUR
Usman Shinwari to Ahmed Shehzad, FOUR
End of over 1: Quetta Gladiators: 2/0 (Target: 191)
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, no run
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, no run
Imad Wasim to Ahmed Shehzad, no run
Imad Wasim to Shane Watson, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Shane Watson, no run
Mohammad Hasnain to Imad Wasim, 2 runs
Mohammad Hasnain to Imad Wasim, 2 runs
Mohammad Hasnain to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run
Mohammad Hasnain to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR
Mohammad Hasnain to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR
Mohammad Hasnain to Iftikhar Ahmed, 2 runs
End of over 19: Karachi Kings: 175/5
Sohail Tanvir to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run
Sohail Tanvir to Iftikhar Ahmed, SIX
Sohail Tanvir to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR
Sohail Tanvir to Iftikhar Ahmed, 2 runs
Sohail Tanvir to Iftikhar Ahmed, SIX
Sohail Tanvir to Ben Dunk, OUT
End of over 18: Karachi Kings: 156/4
Dwayne Bravo to Ben Dunk, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Ben Dunk, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR
Dwayne Bravo to Ben Dunk, 1 run
End of over 17: Karachi Kings: 147/4
Sohail Tanvir to Ben Dunk, 1 run
Sohail Tanvir to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run
Sohail Tanvir to Ben Dunk, 1 run
Sohail Tanvir to Ben Dunk, FOUR
Sohail Tanvir to Ben Dunk, FOUR
Sohail Tanvir to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run
End of over 16: Karachi Kings: 133/4
Dwayne Bravo to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, not out
Dwayne Bravo to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run
Dwayne Bravo to Ben Dunk, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR
Dwayne Bravo to Ben Dunk, 1 run
End of over 15: Karachi Kings: 125/4
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, OUT
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, 2 runs
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, FOUR
Mohammad Hasnain to Ben Dunk, 1 run
Mohammad Hasnain to Colin Ingram, OUT
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, 1 run
End of over 14: Karachi Kings: 117/2
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Ingram, FOUR
Fawad Ahmed to Babar Azam, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Ingram, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Ingram, no run
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Ingram, SIX
Fawad Ahmed to Babar Azam, 1 run
End of over 13: Karachi Kings: 104/2
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, 1 run
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, FOUR
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, no run
Mohammad Hasnain to Colin Ingram, 1 run
Mohammad Hasnain to Colin Ingram, no run
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, 1 run
End of over 12: Karachi Kings: 97/2
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, SIX
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, SIX
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, no run
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Ingram, 1 run
Mohammad Nawaz to Liam Livingstone, OUT, Umar Akmal takes the catch
Mohammad Nawaz to Liam Livingstone, no run
End of over 11: Karachi Kings: 84/1
Fawad Ahmed to Liam Livignstone, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Liam Livignstone, 2 runs
Fawad Ahmed to Babar Azam, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Babar Azam, SIX
Fawad Ahmed to Liam Livignstone, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Babar Azam, 1 run
End of over 10: Karachi Kings: 72/1
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, 1 run
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, no run
Mohammad Nawaz to Liam Livingstone, 1 run
Mohammad Nawaz to Liam Livingstone, no run
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, 1 run
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, no run
End of over 9: Karachi Kings: 69/1
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Munro, OUT
Fawad Ahmed to Babar Azam, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Munro, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Babar Azam, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Babar Azam, no run
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Munro, 1 run
End of over 8: Karachi Kings: 65/0
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro, 1 run
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, 1 run
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro, 1 run
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro, SIX
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, 1 run
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro, 1 run
End of over 7: Karachi Kings: 54/0
Fawad Ahmed to Babar Azam, no run
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Munro, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Munro, no run
Fawad Ahmed to Babar Azam, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Munro, 1 run
Fawad Ahmed to Colin Munro, no run
End of over 6: Karachi Kings: 51/0
Dwayne Bravo to Colin Munro, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Colin Munro, FOUR
Dwayne Bravo to Colin Munro, no run
Dwayne Bravo to Babar Azam, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Babar Azam, FOUR
Dwayne Bravo to Colin Munro, 1 run
End of over 5: Karachi Kings: 40/0
Muhammad Hasnain to Colin Munro, 1 run
Mohammad Hasnain to Colin Munro, 1 wide
Mohammad Hasnain to Colin Munro, no run
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, 1 run
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, no run
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, FOUR
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, 1 wide
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, no run
Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam, 1 wide
End of over 4: Karachi Kings: 31/0
Dwayne Bravo to Colin Munro, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Babar Azam, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Babar Azam, 1 run, not out
Dwayne Bravo to Colin Munro, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Babar Azam, 1 run
Dwayne Bravo to Colin Munro, 1 run
End of over 3: Karachi Kings: 25/0
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, no run
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, FOUR
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, 2 runs
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, FOUR
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, no run
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, 1 wide
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, FOUR
End of over 2: Karachi Kings: 10/0
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro, SIX
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro, no run
Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam, 1 run
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro, 1 run
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro, no run
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro, no run
End of over 1: Karachi Kings: 2/0
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, no run
Sohail Tanvir to Colin Munro, 1 run
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, 1 run
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, no run
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, no run
Sohail Tanvir to Babar Azam, no run
Quetta Gladiators won the toss and choose to bowl against Karachi Kings in the 28th match of Pakistan Super League's (PSL) in Karachi's National Stadium on Sunday.
Karachi Kings seek a much needed win against table-toppers Quetta Gladiators on Sunday to boost their chances of reaching the play-off stages of the HBL PSL.
Match starts at 07:00pm
The Imad Wasim led Karachi outfit is aiming to play the 17 March final on their home ground and before their home fans -- a chance they spurned last year after going down in the eliminator to Islamabad United, who went on to win their second title.
Read more: Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators Match preview
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.
Quetta's rookie fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain will have his tail up on Sunday after he was selected in the Pakistan team for the five one-day internationals against Australia.
That inclusion could add to the venom he has already shown with his 150kph thunderbolts.
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.
Monday will see Lahore meeting Multan Sultans while Karachi will face Peshawar.
The first qualifier (one vs two) will be played on Wednesday followed by the eliminator (3 vs 4) on Thursday.
The second qualifier (loser of first qualifier vs winner of eliminator) will be played on Friday.
The final will be played on Sunday.
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