Quetta triumph in 15th match, beat Karachi by six wickets

Gladiators chase down target of 155 with one over to spare

Openers Ahmad Shahzad and Asad Shafiq struck commanding half-centuries as the Quetta Gladiators pipped the Karachi Kings by six wickets in the 15th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) second edition at Dubai Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing 155 to win the match, both openers showed their class on the top of the order, and scored 105 runs for the first wicket to hand their team an easy win.

Shahzad finished the innings with the top score of 54 off 40 balls, which included four fours and three sixes, whereas Asad Shafiq racked 51 off 38 balls with the help of six fours and a six.

For Karachi, pacer Sohail Khan claimed two, whereas leg-spinner Usama Mir picked one wicket.

Earlier, after being sent in to bat first, Karachi had another dream beginning thanks to captain Kumar Sangakara and Babar Azam, who added 63 runs for the first wicket.

However, once Sangakara departed in the eighth over, Kings lost their way due to some clueless batting, especially from the likes of Chris Gayle, and only managed to score 154 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Young Babar finished the innings with the top score of 36 off 37 balls, whereas West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard scored 31 off just 19 balls.

For Quetta, off-spinner Mahmudullah claimed three, whereas pacer Anwar Ali picked two wickets.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2017.