Babar Azam's 90* helps Karachi Kings [198/3] defeat Multan Sultans [195/6] by 7 wickets in PSL 6

[Cric1234]

Let's be honest this chasing streak is partly due to how poor the bowling teams have been under pressure.

If 190-odd isn't safe, what is ?

220 on this wicket which they should’ve got after being 120-1 after 11 overs.

 

[Titan24]

RR is just over 7. In normal days when setting up a target or chasing a low score, these are the overs I want Babar to maybe create a different plan with regards to how he goes about it. He has all the ability just needs to refine his power game so that he can go at SR 170+ around this part and that will make him a different beast. He can achieve that by just sheer timing as Hafeez has shown.

 

[Cric1234]

Clarke is ruthless he could’ve got a 45 ball hundred if he had the time.

Edit : Just got out but played a match winning innings.

 

[AAli98]

Tournament Becoming a farce now either move the matches to Pindi (where there’s even bat/ball contest) or back to the UAE.

 

[Coolcapri]

What? Do a Saf?

Be more proactive.

 

[Titan24]

Dahani the lone warrior for MS

 

[Firebat]

Don't think Clarke has been practising the ramp shot enough...

 

[MHN1293]

No need for than shot.

 

[silentkiller187]

England wicketkeeper stocks look good especially in limited overs, bairstow butler,Pope, now joe clarke

 

[Coolcapri]

Tournament Becoming a farce now either move the matches to Pindi (where there’s even bat/ball contest) or back to the UAE.

Things might be better once they move to Lhr.

 

[Rana]

Good news is that Rizwan is a keeper. How was Sharjeel in day before yesterday’s news scoring 6(17) in the powerplay

But he has the ability to turn that around with 2-3 lusty blows. Unlike Fakhar and Imam who need to make extraordinary movements to get enough power and elevation to clear the boundary, Sharjeel is a proper timer with power behind it.

I think Rizwan should bat at 3 in case our openers fail

 

[MHN1293]

Babar last 20 balls 24 runs. Good innings today but needs to work on middle and late over hitting.

 

[shamaan]

Dahani is a warrior

 

[Thunderbolt14]

220 on this wicket which they should’ve got after being 120-1 after 11 overs.

This. Poor batting by Multan after Rizwan, Lynn got out. Particular blame goes to Sohaib Maqsood who played a match losing knock.

 

[Cric1234]

But he has the ability to turn that around with 2-3 lusty blows. Unlike Fakhar and Imam who need to make extraordinary movements to get enough power and elevation to clear the boundary, Sharjeel is a proper timer with power behind it.

I think Rizwan should bat at 3 in case our openers fail

With Rizwan and Babar opening unless Rizwan keeps improving we’ll be under par in high scoring matches too much pressure on Hafeez and Haider.

 

[topspin]

Another interruption in the coverage. PSL production quality is laughable.

 

[Manunited18]

Dissapointed in the attendances at the PSL, 50% of the capacity has been given the green light for attendance yet it's poor .

 

[topspin]

Pakistan's top 5 in the T20I WC should be as follows:

Sharjeel
Rizwan (c)
Babar
Hafeez
Fakhar

 

[Thunderbolt14]

But he has the ability to turn that around with 2-3 lusty blows. Unlike Fakhar and Imam who need to make extraordinary movements to get enough power and elevation to clear the boundary, Sharjeel is a proper timer with power behind it.

I think Rizwan should bat at 3 in case our openers fail

You need to begin quantifying what these lusty blows are and who they come against. The majority of Sharjeel’s runs came against spin in that hundred (and he was dropped twice too). If you want, I will entertain your argument to put Sharjeel at 4 or 5.

However these comparisons with Rizwan who is the best player in the powerplay other than Babar need to stop.

 

[Firebat]

Babar last 20 balls 24 runs. Good innings today but needs to work on middle and late over hitting.

He's playing the situation? He had been playing at above 150 strike rate for the majority of the innings, and now as Clarke is taking the risks and exploding, he doesn't need to.

It's not a case of him trying to hit out and he can't do it (like last time), he doesn't need to and it wouldn't be sensible to do so

 

[Coolcapri]

Mutlan need 2 quick wickets

 

[Rana]

KK trying to lose this game now out of nowhere?

 

[Madplayer]

What a good catch by Dhani. I legit thought it will be dropped lol

 

[Titan24]

Can we have a small twist here?

 

[Titan24]

What a good catch by Dhani. I legit thought it will be dropped lol

Lol! Same

 

[Coolcapri]

Good catch need Baber wicket to.

 

[topspin]

You need to begin quantifying what these lusty blows are and who they come against. The majority of Sharjeel’s runs came against spin in that hundred (and he was dropped twice too). If you want, I will entertain your argument to put Sharjeel at 4 or 5.

However these comparisons with Rizwan who is the best player in the powerplay other than Babar need to stop.

Babar and Rizwan cannot be opening together unless you want Pakistan to be 35/0 after the powerplay.

 

[shamaan]

Good catch from dahani

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Pakistan's top 5 in the T20I WC should be as follows:

Sharjeel
Rizwan (c)
Babar
Hafeez
Fakhar

Babar’s strike rate slows down after the powerplay and Sharjeel’s strike rate is slow during the powerplay. Hafeez does much better at 3 than at 4 which is often too late for the batsman scoring the bulk of the quality runs.

1. Babar Azam (c)
2. M Rizwan (wk)
3. M Hafeez
4. Fakhar / Sharjeel
5. Haider Ali
6. Shadab Khan
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Imad / Nawaz
9. Hassan Ali
10. Usman Qadir
11. Shaheen Afridi

You’ll be much better off with this lineup.

 

[Madplayer]

Babar needs to take the game by the scruff of the neck now and win it.

If he fails, it will be unforgivable given that he is set now.

 

[silentkiller187]

Babar and Rizwan cannot be opening together unless you want Pakistan to be 35/0 after the powerplay.

Either that or 10-2 after 3 overs with fakhar and sharjeel.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Babar and Rizwan cannot be opening together unless you want Pakistan to be 35/0 after the powerplay.

I used to think this would be the case but no longer. Rizwan has showed that he can accelerate if the situation allows him to. Babar is also batting at a SR of 150 in the powerplay these days. My powerplay prediction would be 55-1 after the powerplay with Hafeez now at the crease.

 

[topspin]

Babar’s strike rate slows down after the powerplay and Sharjeel’s strike rate is slow during the powerplay. Hafeez does much better at 3 than at 4 which is often too late for the batsman scoring the bulk of the quality runs.

1. Babar Azam (c)
2. M Rizwan (wk)
3. M Hafeez
4. Fakhar / Sharjeel
5. Haider Ali
6. Shadab Khan
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Imad / Nawaz
9. Hassan Ali
10. Usman Qadir
11. Shaheen Afridi

You’ll be much better off with this lineup.

You need firepower in the fist six overs not a tribute to Misbah's tuk tuk era.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

You need firepower in the fist six overs not a tribute to Misbah's tuk tuk era.

Sharjeel’s 6(17) is not firepower.

 

[Rana]

Babar and Rizwan cannot be opening together unless you want Pakistan to be 35/0 after the powerplay.

It will give us 160-7 eventually

Whereas a team like England are going for 200 from the word go

 

[Coolcapri]

Babar’s strike rate slows down after the powerplay and Sharjeel’s strike rate is slow during the powerplay. Hafeez does much better at 3 than at 4 which is often too late for the batsman scoring the bulk of the quality runs.

1. Babar Azam (c)
2. M Rizwan (wk)
3. M Hafeez
4. Fakhar / Sharjeel
5. Haider Ali
6. Shadab Khan
7. Faheem Ashraf
8. Imad / Nawaz
9. Hassan Ali
10. Usman Qadir
11. Shaheen Afridi

You’ll be much better off with this lineup.

Not convinced yet about Qadir, To many freebies.

 

[Rana]

Sharjeel’s 6(17) is not firepower.

That’s one game bro. How many times has Rizwan scored 10 off 11 in the powerplay?

 

[topspin]

I used to think this would be the case but no longer. Rizwan has showed that he can accelerate if the situation allows him to. Babar is also batting at a SR of 150 in the powerplay these days. My powerplay prediction would be 55-1 after the powerplay with Hafeez now at the crease.

This is good if you're chasing 150-170. But anything over 180, you need that little bit more firepower.

I don't want Fakhar to open because he can't play the new ball. Pakistan and LQ need to try him lower down the order.

 

[Firebat]

Babar needs to stay calm here. 7 wickets in hand, nearly run a ball. It's all under control

 

[topspin]

Sharjeel’s 6(17) is not firepower.

Lol that's one innings. What about the ton and if you're going to pick out one, lets look at the quick cameo he played today. 27 off 14 balls gave KK the start they needed.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Not convinced yet about Qadir, To many freebies.

The pitch is quite flat and non-conducive to leggies. Qadir isn’t some Warne, but he is the best leggie in the country. If the pitches in India are even a little more conducive than this one, Qadir will be a must pick.

 

[Rana]

You need firepower in the fist six overs not a tribute to Misbah's tuk tuk era.

This is the point I consistently try to make but because it seems Rizwan is a country in his own right, therefore I am being highly offensive!

Misbah enters the fold and you see a similar pattern of players that are reminiscent to his era

 

[topspin]

It will give us 160-7 eventually

Whereas a team like England are going for 200 from the word go

We have to accommodate Sharjeel if he is able to regain the form that we saw pre-ban.

 

[Cric1234]

Clarke has done the damage score is 20 runs under par easy win for KK.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Lol that's one innings. What about the ton and if you're going to pick out one, lets look at the quick cameo he played today. 27 off 14 balls gave KK the start they needed.

That’s why I’ve put Sharjeel at 4. His runs came against spin. 25 runs in just one over against Shadab alone if I remember correctly.

Sharjeel’s 27(14) is the most deceptive innings on paper in this PSL. Half of those runs came from edges that missed the stumps by an inch.

 

[Coolcapri]

This is good if you're chasing 150-170. But anything over 180, you need that little bit more firepower.

I don't want Fakhar to open because he can't play the new ball. Pakistan and LQ need to try him lower down the order.

you think fakher can handle spin in the middle overs, I have seen him struggle againts part time off break bowlers.

 

[topspin]

Either that or 10-2 after 3 overs with fakhar and sharjeel.

Yeah Fakhar isn't good enough to open. This why you need to balance an accomplished accumulator (Babar or Rizwan) with a genuine power hitter as your opening combination.

Fakhar can't play the new ball to save his life. Pakistan and LQ would be better off trying him out in the middle order.

 

[topspin]

you think fakher can handle spin in the middle overs, I have seen him struggle againts part time off break bowlers.

I have seen him struggle against spin but I think he will be better against a softer ball in the middle overs. His main weakness is the extra bounce off the hard new ball.

 

[Titan24]

I used to think this would be the case but no longer. Rizwan has showed that he can accelerate if the situation allows him to. Babar is also batting at a SR of 150 in the powerplay these days.

While they wont be as consistent but thing which I feel is that there is more chance of Fakhar or Sharjeel giving that 18 ball 36 or something like that kind of start than Babar or Rizwan so I believe it would be good idea to have one of them at the top.

Not to forget the right left combo which helps as well. Babar and Rizwan both are outstanding but as we lack decent power hitters at the back end I think it would ge important to incash the powerplay. When Pak scored 4 consecutive 180 odd scores (I think it is a record of some sort) we had Fakhar at the top not playing long knocks but just enough to provide that initial ignition. We need to utilize powerplay to its fullest of we want to go 170/180+ to compensate for our lower order hitting in my opinion.

 

[Markhor]

Pakistan's top 5 in the T20I WC should be as follows:

Sharjeel
Rizwan (c)
Babar
Hafeez
Fakhar

Haider seems to be doing well at 5. Better against pace than Fakhar. I'd be tempted to stick with him.

 

[topspin]

This is the point I consistently try to make but because it seems Rizwan is a country in his own right, therefore I am being highly offensive!

Misbah enters the fold and you see a similar pattern of players that are reminiscent to his era

There's no doubt Misbah has probably made his mind up on Sharjeel. He ain't gonna pick him. He'll stick with Babar and Rizwan to open the batting. The lack of firepower won't work for Pakistan.

 

[Darkrai]

Babar struggling to finish this off

 

[topspin]

Haider seems to be doing well at 5. Better against pace than Fakhar. I'd be tempted to stick with him.

True that's a fair point.

I just feel Haider Ali is still a little raw and needs to grasp how to construct an innings. Knowing what Misbah does, he'll probably shove him at six and turn him into a pinch hitter.

 

[Abdurmirr]

That’s one game bro. How many times has Rizwan scored 10 off 11 in the powerplay?

Yep lets look at Rizwan's stats this PSL during the PP
Game 1: 23 (18)
Game 2: 22 (16)
Game 3: 44 (22)
Game 4: 15 (14)
All off those innings above a strike rate of 100, all of those innings much more fluent than the match fixers 6 (17). Lets also remember that Rizwan is an outstanding keeper where as Sharjeel is a useless fielder. So yeah I dont really see any reason Sharjeel should be opening instead of Rizwan

 

[Firebat]

Babar struggling to finish this off

Luckily Sohail Khan wanted to help him out

 

[Coolcapri]

Pathetic slow bowl by Suhail,

 

[Titan24]

Some thinking for Andy Flower to do

 

[Firebat]

Wonderful from Babar

 

[Rana]

Sohail Khan is a joke

 

[Coolcapri]

i think MS bowler seems like playing for kk, i haven't seen so many bad balls on any of psl matches as i seen today.

 

[Rana]

The people’s champ schooled by the Franchise that let him go. The true champion franchise that is!!

 

[Titan24]

Match winning knock today by Babar whole chasing 196. Top stuff.

Still would like him to work on his games and plans around the middle overs because I believe he can do even better.

 

[IMMY69]

It's ridiculous when you think that Afridi played 6 years of international cricket alongside Wasim Akram and Akram retired in 2003 yet Afridi is still playing in 2021

 

[Thunderbolt14]

This is good if you're chasing 150-170. But anything over 180, you need that little bit more firepower.

I don't want Fakhar to open because he can't play the new ball. Pakistan and LQ need to try him lower down the order.

I disagree. The key to chasing isn’t firepower, it’s a long batting lineup and a stable base laid by the openers. Look how Peshawar made 202 chasing even with Imam batting at a strike rate of 130.

Babar and Rizwan are the highest strike rate batsmen in Pakistan for the powerplay overs. I have made peace with this even though I doubted Rizwan just a couple months ago.

You can pick up the stats and see for yourself. Also note that Sharjeel will be facing Rabada and Cummins, not Sohail Khan, the way he struggles against the moving ball. This is an issue that Babar and Rizwan do not have.

For the powerplay, we want our top 3 to consist of Babar, Rizwan, and Hafeez which is absolutely destructive on a consistent basis.

Our middle order at 4 and 5 should then consist of players who can dominate spin like no tomorrow because these batsmen will come in during the middle overs in 90% of matches. Fakhar, Sharjeel, Azam, and Haider are the best batsmen in the country as far as this goes — take or pick of any two. I have a bit of a preference for people who can field well but Sharjeel definitely looks better than Fakhar these days with the bat, so that’s your tradeoff if you want to hide Sharjeel in the field. That’s fair, even if I disagree.

From 6-11, we need people who can bowl, as none of the top 5 can bowl and these days you want 6 bowling options. Hafeez doesn’t count as he’s maybe bowled 2 overs in the last 2 years, and I’m not gambling with my nostalgia of his excellent chucking.

Therefore, I’ve packed the lower middle order at 6-8 with Imad, Faheem, and Shadab who have all showed the ability to a) bowl reliably (most important) b) finish games c) hit at the death d) ability to float up the order if the team needs them during a collapse.

Nawaz also shows all of these attributes and in my mind can come in place of any of Imad or Shadab and can even come in place of Qadir if Qadir loses form.

Hassan and Shaheen in as maybe the only two people in the country who we can rely on to bowl at the death.

 

[Coolcapri]

You can't blame the pitch this match was MS to loose, They didn't finish well in the end and 20 to 25 runs short what they should have got.
Also the bowling was pathetic.

 

[shamaan]

Good to see babar giving pat on the shoulder to dahani

 

[Thunderbolt14]

While they wont be as consistent but thing which I feel is that there is more chance of Fakhar or Sharjeel giving that 18 ball 36 or something like that kind of start than Babar or Rizwan so I believe it would be good idea to have one of them at the top.

Not to forget the right left combo which helps as well. Babar and Rizwan both are outstanding but as we lack decent power hitters at the back end I think it would ge important to incash the powerplay. When Pak scored 4 consecutive 180 odd scores (I think it is a record of some sort) we had Fakhar at the top not playing long knocks but just enough to provide that initial ignition. We need to utilize powerplay to its fullest of we want to go 170/180+ to compensate for our lower order hitting in my opinion.

Fakhar or Sharjeel giving an 18 ball 36 is a fantasy. I wish but they just haven’t showed this ability even at the PSL level in the last two years. Why would they suddenly produce this kind of knock in international cricket?

Both of them struggle against quality fast bowling — Fakhar if cramped for room and Sharjeel if the ball is moving. Both are considered “good openers” because for two years now they have been covering up their runs through either edges or by targeting spin in the middle overs — nothing suggests to me that they are good openers.

The honest to god truth is that Rizwan is far more likely to give us 36(18) in the powerplay than those two.

 

[Titan24]

Fakhar or Sharjeel giving an 18 ball 36 is a fantasy. I wish but they just haven’t showed this ability even at the PSL level in the last two years. Why would they suddenly produce this kind of knock in international cricket?

Both of them struggle against quality fast bowling — Fakhar if cramped for room and Sharjeel if the ball is moving. Both are considered “good openers” because for two years now they have been covering up their runs through either edges or by targeting spin in the middle overs — nothing suggests to me that they are good openers.

The honest to god truth is that Rizwan is far more likely to give us 36(18) in the powerplay than those two.

Fair points and even if we go by them, currently I will be more confident with one off Fakhar or Sharjeel at the top than I am with Khushdil, Iftikhar or Talat in middle lower order. Yes I believe both of these things are related as we dont have good middle order batsmen so having one off Rizwan or Babar in the middle will make it stronger. So I believe its all about a good combination for the team. With Hafeez coming in and one off Babar or Rizwan going in the middle will make the team more stronger in my opinion. Our middle order really has been lacking experience in the middle to even consolidate confidently let alone provide firepower. That was one of the reasons Babar has to demote himself agaisnt SA in 3rd T20.

 

[castortroy]

How is Afridi still being selected for franchise teams.

Seriously the guy is finished as a cricketer

 

[Abdurmirr]

Disappointing to see the same trend being repeated every single game, bowl first and win. Multan had a great chance of breaking the streak, however poor batting from Maqsood, Afridi and Khushdhil ruined it for them. Tbh, most middle and late order batsmen from PK have been pathetic through and through this tournament

 

[naseem]

Karachi knew they would win because they. would chase.... And hence they fielded poorly.... But but but we should not get overboard about this sudden chasing prowess...... We all know when it comes to international matches Pak is still better of not chasing...

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Fair points and even if we go by them, currently I will be more confident with one off Fakhar or Sharjeel at the top than I am with Khushdil, Iftikhar or Talat in middle lower order. Yes I believe both of these things are related as we dont have good middle order batsmen so having one off Rizwan or Babar in the middle will make it stronger. So I believe its all about a good combination for the team. With Hafeez coming in and one off Babar or Rizwan going in the middle will make the team more stronger in my opinion. Our middle order really has been lacking experience in the middle to even consolidate confidently let alone provide firepower. That was one of the reasons Babar has to demote himself agaisnt SA in 3rd T20.

We don’t need Khushdil, Iftikhar, or Talat in our middle order. I don’t think our middle order is as weak as people think. We’ve just had people missing in the last few series.

Babar
Rizwan
Hafeez
Fakhar
Haider
Imad
Shadab
Faheem

What’s wrong with this?

 

[naseem]

Fair points and even if we go by them, currently I will be more confident with one off Fakhar or Sharjeel at the top than I am with Khushdil, Iftikhar or Talat in middle lower order. Yes I believe both of these things are related as we dont have good middle order batsmen so having one off Rizwan or Babar in the middle will make it stronger. So I believe its all about a good combination for the team. With Hafeez coming in and one off Babar or Rizwan going in the middle will make the team more stronger in my opinion. Our middle order really has been lacking experience in the middle to even consolidate confidently let alone provide firepower. That was one of the reasons Babar has to demote himself agaisnt SA in 3rd T20.

Ideally this should. be the line up...

Sharjeel
Rizwan
Babar
Haider
Hafeez
Sarfraz
Faheem
Imad
Hasan Ali
Qadir
Saheen.....

Keep with Sarfi....this will provide a better fielder in field in the form of Rizwan too......sadly but Sarfraz is a better player of spin than Talat Khushdil Ifti combined

 

[naseem]

We don’t need Khushdil, Iftikhar, or Talat in our middle order. I don’t think our middle order is as weak as people think. We’ve just had people missing in the last few series.

Babar
Rizwan
Hafeez
Fakhar
Haider
Imad
Shadab
Faheem

What’s wrong with this?

Shadab the bowler is a liability and we can't play him as a proper batsman even... His hitting ability is still not proven completely at international level......his 2 half centuries one in ODI and one in t20. Are both in NZ....

 

[naseem]

Most bowlers and fielders are bowling and fielding rubbish as result no total is safe......

 

[Titan24]

We don’t need Khushdil, Iftikhar, or Talat in our middle order. I don’t think our middle order is as weak as people think. We’ve just had people missing in the last few series.

Babar
Rizwan
Hafeez
Fakhar
Haider
Imad
Shadab
Faheem

What’s wrong with this?

Decent lineup gives batting as well as bowling depth. Would like to see Imad promoting himself for few matches in PSL to show his ability to selectors with bat again as he surely is more consistent hitter than so called power hitter. Would prefer Fakhar at 3 as would like someone more dependable like Hafeez at 4.

 

[Titan24]

Shadab the bowler is a liability and we can't play him as a proper batsman even... His hitting ability is still not proven completely at international level......his 2 half centuries one in ODI and one in t20. Are both in NZ....

In this lineup a specialist spinner (Qadir or Zahid) can still play if required as Faheem can give that third seamer option. Wont be a bad option considering World T20 is in India. 7 bowling options (Including Hafeez) can make up overs of anyone having a bad day.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Decent lineup gives batting as well as bowling depth. Would like to see Imad promoting himself for few matches in PSL to show his ability to selectors with bat again as he surely is more consistent hitter than so called power hitter. Would prefer Fakhar at 3 as would like someone more dependable like Hafeez at 4.

Why do we need someone dependable at 4? Hafeez has always done better coming in earlier than later. He came in early during the games in England, New Zealand, and South Africa and comes in at 3 anyways for Lahore Qalandars. He effectively bats at number 3 across formats.

He is also our most destructive batsman and you want him to play the longest, and preferably even take advantage of the powerplay.

Fakhar at 3 would mean he comes in against pace and would have the same set of problems as if he was opener. I’ve restricted him to 4 so him or Sharjeel can take advantage of medium pacers/all rounders/spinners which is where they are most destructive.

Haider is an automatic pick at 5, where he can bat aggressively with a platform already built, and can begin to mature the way he bats. As the best young batsman in the country, should be an automatic pick just for the sake of development.

That’s the top 5 settled. Regardless of who comes after, those are the best batsmen in the country for those positions.

I do agree that Imad needs to promote himself and show what he’s capable of more often.

Shadab the bowler is a liability and we can't play him as a proper batsman even... His hitting ability is still not proven completely at international level......his 2 half centuries one in ODI and one in t20. Are both in NZ....

He is a relukatta there for the sake of team combination. He is the best relukatta in the country and even if Shadab was a pure bowler, he is the best spinner in the country aside from Usman Qadir and Mohammad Nawaz. We don’t have that many good spin options available.

Zahid Mehmood is equivalent to Shadab with the ball but can’t bat or field. No other spinners that really come to mind except Zafar Gohar but Nawaz is a much better left arm spinner.

So I will go with three spinners per match and these three can be any three out of:
Imad Wasim
Shadab Khan
Mohammad Nawaz
Usman Qadir

Take your pick

 

[Saj]

Defending champions Karachi Kings produced a stunning run-chase to defeat Multan Sultans by seven wickets in ninth fixture of HBL PSL 6 at Karachi’s National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Kings’ victory has given them the top-spot in the HBL PSL 6 points table. They have won two out of their three games and have four points each with Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi, but with improved net run-rate they are at the top of the table.

For Kings’, the foundation of the 196-run chase was laid by the opening partnership of 56 between left-handed Sharjeel Khan (27 off 14) and player-of-the-match Babar Azam. After the departure of Sharjeel, Babar was joined by Joe Clarke. The pair added 97 runs stand for the second-wicket.

The right-handed Clarke contributed 54 off 26, smashing three fours and four sixes –his first half century in the HBL PSL 6.

Kings were helped past the target by an unbroken 36-run partnership between Babar (90 not out, 60 balls, 13 fours, one six) and Mohammad Nabi (13 not out, eight balls, two fours) with seven balls to spare.

Shahnawaz Dhani with two wickets for 28 runs in three overs was the pick of the Sultans’ bowlers.

Earlier, after being put into bat by Kings’ captain Imad Wasim, the Sultans got off to a flying start. The opening pair of Chris Lynn and Mohammad Rizwan combined for a 50-run partnership in just 4.1 overs. The very next ball, Lynn fell to Imad after scoring 32 off 14 balls (six fours, one six), his highest so far in HBL PSL 6.

Rizwan was joined by James Vince with scoreboard reading at 53 for one. Both batsmen continued to dominate the Kings bowling attack as they contributed 70 runs for the second-wicket before Rizwan became right-arm fast Arshad Iqbal’s first victim of the day. Rizwan scored 43 off 32 balls. He struck five boundaries.

After the departure of Rizwan, the flow of runs dropped considerably for Sultans, and they ended up scoring 195 for six in 20 overs. Vince top-scored with a 29-ball 45, striking five fours and a six. Sohaib Maqsood contributed an unbeaten 34 off 27, which included two fours and a six.

For Kings, Arshad was pick of the bowlers with two for 36 in four overs.

Scores in brief

Multan Sultans 195-6, 20 overs (James Vince 45, Mohammad Rizwan 43, Sohaib Maqsood 34, Chris Lynn 32; Arshad Iqbal 2-36)

Karachi Kings 198-3, 18.5 overs (Babar Azam 90 not out, Joe Clarke 54, Sharjeel Khan 27; Shahnawaz Dhani 2-28)

Player-of-the-match – Babar Azam (Karachi Kings)

 

[Rellu_Katta]

Wasim isn't their coach. Gibbs is

hardly think Gibbs would be the one running the game