Young Fakhar Zaman played more than a useful hand as Lahore Qalandars beat Karachi Kings by seven runs in Sharjah on Thursday.
After being put in to bat first, Qalandars lost captain Brendon McCullum early, but left-hander Fakhar scored a timely 56 off 36 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes to help his side post a competitive total of 179 for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
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He was well supported by opener Jason Roy (26 off 16), middle-order batsman Umar Akmal (25 off 16) and wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan (29 off 22).
For Karachi, pacers Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan and leg-spinner Usama Mir claimed two wickets each.
Chasing 180 to open their account in the tournament, Karachi lost openers Chris Gayle (5) and Babar Azam (9) early. However, 101-run third-wicket partnership between captain Kumar Sangakara and veteran Shoaib Malik kept them in the game.
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But once Sangakara departed in the 15th over, Kings lost their way and kept losing wickets at regular intervals and managed to score 172 for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Sangakara finished the innings with the top score of 65 off 45 with the help of eight fours and one six, whereas Malik scored 39 off 30 balls with the help of two massive sixes.
For Lahore, pacers Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan and off-spinner Sunil Narine claimed two wickets each.
Presentation:
Fakhar Zaman (Man of the match): I feel very good, and I want to thank Almighty Allah. I am trying to play my natural game. My captain always ask everyone to play fearless cricket and that’s what I am trying to do.
Kumar Sangakara: We had the match under control till the 15th over. I think the Qalandars fielded really well in the last part of the innings, which was the difference in the end. Our combination is very good, but we have to field a little bit better and hopefully our big guns will start showing some form from the next match as well.
Brendon McCullum: Yea really proud of the boys. First and foremost it was an outstanding game of cricket. I thought today was great spectacle for the fans of both cities. The way Fakhar played was outstanding. Kumar and Malik took the game away from us but we held our nerve. Sohail Tanvir, Bhatti and young Irfan were outstanding in the end for us.
KHI 172-8 (20 overs)
Just 10 run and a wicket off the final over.
OUT! Irfan gets a well deserved wicket.
Mohammad Irfan to bowl final over of the innings.
KHI 162-7 (19 overs)
Fifteen off the over and two wickets.
SIX! @iamamirofficial hits one straight down the ground for a maximum. https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
OUT! @sohailmalik614 gets a big one as @ravibopara departs.@KarachiKingsARY needs 24 off seven ballshttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
SIX! Sohail Khan hits a massive six to keep @KarachiKingsARY hopes alivehttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
OUT! @simadwasim departs courtesy brilliant run out from @iMRizwanPak https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Sohail Tanvir to start his final over.
KHI 147-5 (18 overs)
Just eight off the over.
FOUR! @simadwasim hits boundary on a free-hit. @KarachiKingsARY needs 33 off 12 balls. https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Bilawal Bhatti to bowl his final over.
KHI 139-5 (17 overs)
Just seven and a wicket off the over. A great one for Lahore.
OUT! @SunilPNarine74 get another big wicket as @KieronPollard55 departs after scoring just eighthttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Sunil Narine to start his final over.
KHI 132-4 (16 overs)
FOUR! @KieronPollard55 strikes one over mid on for a boundary. @KarachiKingsARY need 49 off 25 ballhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
OUT! Another big wicket for @lahoreqalandars as @realshoaibmalik departs after scoring 39 off 30 ballshttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Bilawal Bhatti to start his new over.
KHI 124-3 (15 overs)
Just five off the over and a wicket.
OUT! @sohailmalik614 gets a big wicket as @KumarSanga2 departs after scoring 65 off 45. https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Sohail Tanvir to start his new over.
KHI 119-2 (14 overs)
Six off the over. A great one Lahore.
Mohammad Irfan to start his new over.
KHI 113-2 (13 overs)
Thirteen off the over. A great one for Karachi.
SIX! @KumarSanga2 hits one out of the park over deep mid-wicket region for a maximumhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
FOUR! @KumarSanga2 smashes @Shah64Y for a boundary through deep cover for a boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Yasir Shah to start his second over.
KHI 100-2 (12 overs)
Sixteen off the over. A great one for Karachi.
SIX! Slow ball and @realshoaibmalik gets down on one knee hits that out for the park for a maximum. https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
SIX! Full pitch and @realshoaibmalik hits one down the ground for a maximumhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Grant Elliot to start his new over.
KHI 84-2 (11 overs)
Twelve off the over.
FOUR! Flighted and @KumarSanga2 hits one between long off and deep cover for a boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Sunil Narine to start his third over.
KHI 72-2 (10 overs)
Twelve off the over. A good one for Karachi.
FOUR! Full and @KumarSanga2 strikes one to the deep mid-wicket boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
FOUR! Short and @KumarSanga2FC pulls one over mid-wicket boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Bilawal Bhatti to start his new over.
KHI 60-2 (9 overs)
Just six off the over.
Grant Elliot to start his first over.
KHI 54-2 (8 overs)
Just three off the over.
Narine to start his second over.
KHI 51-2 (7 overs)
Six off the over.
Yasir Shah to start his first over.
KHI 45-2 (6 overs)
17 off the over. A good one Karachi Kings.
FOURx2! @KumarSanga2 is on fire as he strikes back-to-back boundaries for @KarachiKingsARY https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
FOUR! Short and @KumarSanga2 pulls one for a boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Irfan to continue.
KHI 28-2 (5 overs)
Seven off the over.
Bilawal Bhatti to start his first over.
KHI 21-2 (4 overs)
Just two runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! @babarazam258 departs after scoring nine off 10 balls
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
KHI 21-2https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
Mohammad Irfan to start his new over.
KHI 19-1 (3 overs)
Seven off the over.
FOUR! @babarazam258 hits one over mid mid on for a boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Sohail Tanvir to continue.
KHI 12-1 (2 overs)
Nine and a wicket off the over.
FOUR! @KumarSanga2 strikes one to the covers boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
OUT! @SunilPNarine74 gets a big one as @henrygayle departs after scoring just fivehttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
FOUR! Poor delivery from @SunilPNarine74 and @henrygayle takes full advantage of it. https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Sunil Narine to start his first over.
KHI 3-0 (1 over)
Just three off the first over.
So it's Babar Azam and Chris Gayle to open for Karachi, whereas Sohail Tanvir will start for Lahore.
So that's it guys from the first innings. We will join you shortly for the second half.
LHR 179-8 (20 overs)
Just four runs and three wickets.
OUT! @iamamirofficial takes another wicket as @SunilPNarine74 departs after scoring 13. LHR 176-7 https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
OUT! @iamamirofficial takes a big wicket as @grantelliottnz departs after scoring 17. LHR 175-6 https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Mohammad Amir to start final over of the innings.
LHR 175-5 (19 overs)
Ten off the over. An expensive one for Karachi.
FOUR! Full toss and @SunilPNarine74 smashes one to the deep cover boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Usman Khan to start his final over.
LHR 165-5 (18 overs)
Eleven runs a wicket off the over.
SIX! Slow ball and @SunilPNarine74 strikes one out of the park over deep mid-wicket for a maximumhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
OUT! Sohail Khan gets a big wicket as @iMRizwanPak departs after scoring 29 off 22.
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
LHR 158-5https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
Sohail Khan to bowl his final over.
LHR 154-4 (17 overs)
Just two off the over. A brilliant one from young Usman.
Usman Khan to start his new over.
LHR 152-4 (16 overs)
Twelve off the over. A good one for Lahore.
FOUR! Another one for Rizwan.
FOUR! Mohammad Rizwan gets his first boundary of the innings.
Mohammad Amir to start his new over.
LHR 140-4 (15 overs)
Eight off the over.
FOUR! @grantelliottnz comes down the track and hist one over extra cover for a boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Sohail Khan to start his new over.
LHR 132-4 (14 overs)
Just seven off the over.
Imad Wasim to start his second over.
LHR 125-4 (13 overs)
Twelve runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! @iamusamamir strikes big as Fakhar Zaman departs after scoring 56 off just 36 balls. LHR 119-4 https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
SIX! Fakhar Zaman strikes one out of the park over cow corner region for a maximumhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Usama Mir to bowl his final over.
LHR 113-3 (12 overs)
Just seven off the over.
Bopara to continue.
LHR 106-3 (11 overs)
Ten runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! @Umar96Akmal departs after scoring 25 off 16. LHR 104-3 https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
SIX! @Umar96Akmal comes down the wicket and hits one out of the park for a maximumhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Usama Mir to continue.
LHR 96-2 (10 overs)
Twelve runs off the over.
FOUR! Fakhar Zaman comes charging down the wicket for another boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Ravi Bopara to start his first over.
LHR 84-2 (9 overs)
Eleven and a wicket off the over.
FOUR! @Umar96Akmal this time comes down the wicket and hits his first boundary of the inningshttps://t.co/DYRWeoO3Se #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
FOUR! Fakhar Zaman comes down the wicket and smashes one down the ground for another boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Usama Mir to continue.
LHR 73-2 (8 overs)
Six wides and three singles off the over.
Usman to start his new over.
LHR 64-2 (7 overs)
Just two off the over. A good one Karachi.
Usama Mir to start his first over.
LHR 62-2 (6 overs)
Just five runs and a wicket off the over.
FOUR! Slow ball and @Umar96Akmal strikes one down the groundhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
OUT! Sohail Khan strikes big for @KarachiKingsARY as Jason Roy departs after scoring 26 off 16 balls. https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Sohail Khan to start his new over.
LHR 57-1 (5 overs)
14 off the over. A good one for Lahore.
SIX! Short and Roy pulls one out of the park for a maximum over deep mid-wicket boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
FOUR! Fakhar Zaman strikes another boundary, this time down the groundhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Usman Khan to start his first over.
LHR 43-1 (4 overs)
14 off the over. A good one for Lahore.
SIX! Fakhar Zaman is on fire as he struck his second six of the nighthttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
FOUR! Slow ball and Fakhar smashes it for a boundary through deep mid-wicket regionhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Sohail Khan to start his new over.
LHR 29-1 (3 overs)
Seven off the over.
Mohammad Amir to continue.
LHR 22-1 (2 overs)
Fifteen runs and a wicket off the over.
SIX! First ball and Fakhar Zaman strikes one over the park for a maximum https://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
OUT! @simadwasim gets @KarachiKingsARY first wicket of the day. McCullum departs without scoringhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
FOUR! Roy smashes one through cover region for the boundaryhttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
Imad Wasim to start his first over.
LHR 7-0 (1 over)
So it's seven off the first over.
FOUR! Jason Roy hits first boundary of the innings for Lahorehttps://t.co/DYRWeowt0G #PSL2017
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) February 16, 2017
It's Jason Roy and Brendon McCullum to open the innings for Lahore, whereas it's Mohammad Amir to begin for Karachi.
TOSS: And the news is Karachi Kings captain Kumar Sangakara has won the toss and opted to bowl first against Lahore Qalandars.
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