Shinwari takes Karachi into HBL PSL playoffs

By Khalid Hussain

March 11, 2019

KARACHI: One single over can sometimes make a huge difference. Ask Usman Shinwari about it.The 25-year-old was all set to end Sunday night as one of Karachi Kings’ biggest villain after conceding 22 runs in his third over, allowing Quetta Gladiators to take control of their run-chase in a tense HBL Pakistan Super League match at a packed National Stadium. But the spirited pacer bounced back with a vengeance as he ripped through Quetta’s batting line-up in the last over of the match, picking up three wickets and giving Karachi a thrilling one-run win in the match.

With the victory, Karachi secured their place in the playoffs and in the process knocked big rivals Lahore Qalandars out of PSL season 4. The playoff line-up is now complete with Quetta, Peshawar Zalmi, Islamabad United and Karachi remaining in the hunt for the coveted title. Lahore and Multan Sultans are out of the contest.

It was a see-saw encounter as Karachi looked in a solid position after the combination of Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed and Colin Munro helped them post a formidable total of 190-5 in what was quite a must-win match for them.

Though Quetta, who had already qualified for the playoffs, weren’t as desperate for a win Ahmed Shehzad almost single-handedly took them past the finish line with a stunning 99 from just 57 balls. Shehzad, who has been discarded by Pakistan because of a variety of reasons, was in full flow as he hit six sixers and eight fours to take Quetta to a point where they just needed five runs from the final over.

That final over was to be bowled by Shinwari. The pacer scalped dangerman Shehzad before getting the wickets of Anwar Ali and Quetta skipper Sarfraz Ahmed to restrict Quetta to 189-7 and take Karachi into the business end of the PSL.

Later, Shinwari was adjudged man-of-the-match.“I was thinking that the ball is old, so I should try to use it well. The plan worked today, I’m glad. We know that bowlers can get hit for fours and sixes in a game, so we can’t get disheartened when that happens. We need to just lift ourselves for the next delivery, and that’s what paid off now,” said Shinwari.

Another bowling hero for Karachi was 19-year-old left-arm spinner Umer Khan, who took three key wickets including that of Australian big-hitter Shane Watson.“I’m bowling deliveries that are forcing batsmen to reach at it, and I’m getting success with that plan. Slowly, all our key performers are contributing in every match,” he said.

Sarfraz hailed Shinwari for his match-winning heroics.

“Both teams were supported by the crowd, an excellent game. I think we’ve understood that cricket is not an easy game. Ahmed played an excellent innings, but Shinwari trumped that in the final over.”

Quetta Gladiators won toss

Karachi Kings

Babar Azam c Sarfraz b Hasnain 56

C Munro c Sarfraz b Fawad 30

L S Livingstone c Umar b Nawaz 5

C A Ingram lbw b Hasnain 24

†B R Dunk c Nawaz b Tanvir 18

Iftikhar Ahmed not out 44

*Imad Wasim not out 4

Extras (lb 5, w 4) 9

Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 190

Did not bat: Aamer Yamin, Usman Shinwari, Umer Khan, Sohail Khan