DUBAI: The high-flying Quetta Gladiators bulldozed their way into the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoffs after decimating Karachi Kings by six wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium here on Thursday night.

While table-toppers Quetta became the first franchise to head into next week’s playoff stage, bottom-placed Karachi now must not only win their remaining two fixtures but also hope that other results go their way and brighten their prospects.

The foundation of Quetta’s fourth victory in six matches was laid by the first century opening partnership in this year’s event between Asad Shafiq (51 off 38 balls, six fours and one six) and Ahmed Shehzad, who returned to form with a crafty 40-ball 54, studded with four boundaries and three sixes. The pair put on 105 in 66 deliveries.

Karachi – who have now lost all four matches against Quetta in the PSL – restored parity briefly when Sohail Khan removed both openers and then Kevin Pietersen was run out without facing a ball in the 13th over. But chasing 155 was never beyond Quetta Gladiators and they won comfortably in the end, with one over to spare.

Earlier, man of the match Mahmudullah grabbed 3-21 to restrict Karachi after Sarfraz Ahmed opted to field first. It was Kieron Pollard’s 19-ball cameo off 31 deliveries that finally lifted Karachi Kings to a respectable 154-6. The final over, delivered by debutant left-arm paceman Mir Hamza (0-48 in four overs), yielded as many as 21 runs.

Scoreboard

KARACHI KINGS:

Babar Azam c Hassaan b Mahmudullah 36
K.C. Sangakkara st Sarfraz b Mahmudullah 28
C.H. Gayle c Hassaan b Anwar 29
Shoaib Malik c Hassaan b Mahmudullah 9
K.A. Pollard c Anwar b Hamza 31
R.S. Bopara c Rossouw b Anwar 1
Imad Wasim not out 6
Sohail Khan not out 0

EXTRAS (W-14) 14
TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs) 154
FALL OF WKTS: 1-63, 2-77, 3-94, 4-131, 5-133, 6-148.
DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Amir, Usama Mir, Usman Khan Shinwari.
BOWLING: Mir Hamza 4-0-48-1 (2w); Mills 4-0-28-0 (4w); Anwar Ali 4-0-30-2 (1w); Mohammad Nawaz 1-0-11-0; Hassaan Khan 3-0-16-0 (3w); Mahmudullah 4-0-21-3.

QUETTA GLADIATORS:

Asad Shafiq c Amir b Sohail 51
Ahmed Shehzad c Pollard b Sohail 54
K.P. Pietersen run out 0
R.R. Rossouw c Sangakkara b Usama 15
Sarfraz Ahmed not out 19
Mahmudullah not out 8

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-7, W-2, NB-1) 11
TOTAL (for four wkts, 19 overs) 158
FALL OF WKTS: 1-105, 2-111, 3-111, 4-142.
DID NOT BAT: Anwar Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Hassaan Khan, T.S. Mills, Mir Hamza.
BOWLING: Imad Wasim 3-0-18-0; Mohammad Amir 4-1-27-0 (1nb); Usman Khan Shinwari 4-0-33-0; Sohail Khan 3-0-28-2 (1w); Usama Mir 4-0-39-1; Shoaib Malik 1-0-5-0 (1w).

RESULT: Quetta Gladiators won by six wickets.
UMPIRES: Shozab Raza (Pakistan) and R.E.J. Martinesz (Sri Lanka).
TV UMPIRE: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan).
MATCH REFEREE: Mohammad Anees (Pakistan).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Mahmudullah.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2017