Martin Guptill scores his first PSL tonne against Karachi Kings.
Quetta Gladiators defeated Karachi Kings by six runs in the sixth match of the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Saturday at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.
This was Quetta’s first tournament victory. Karachi, on the other hand, has lost all three of its home matches thus far.
Karachi were restricted to 162-5 in their allotted 20 overs while chasing a 169-run total.
The formal Shoaib Malik stayed unbeaten on 71 runs in 49 balls, but his team was unable to cross the finish line. His inning featured eight fours and one six.
Meanwhile, Irfan Khan scored 37 runs in 26 balls, including one four and three maximums.
Karachi got off to a shaky start in the run chase, losing three wickets in the first five overs. Sharjeel Khan and Haider Ali were both dismissed for ducks, while James Vince, who temporarily appeared to be in command, could only manage 22 runs in 14 balls.
After adding 86 runs in 54 balls for the sixth wicket, Malik and Irfan threatened to chase down the mark, but Quetta’s bowlers, particularly Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain, held their nerve in the closing overs to ensure their team won the match.
Hasnain was the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 2-29 in four overs. Meanwhile, Naseem, Qais Ahmad, and Mohammad Nawaz each took a wicket.
Earlier, opener Martin Guptill hit a century as Quetta Gladiators rallied against Karachi Kings after losing early wickets.
After being asked to bat first by Karachi, Quetta produced 168-7 in 20 overs.
To get his century, Guptill hit pacer Andrew Tye for 30 runs in the 19th over of the game.
The New Zealand player hit 117 runs in 67 balls, including 12 fours and five sixes, before being bowled on the penultimate delivery of the innings.
Quetta was reeling when Karachi captain Imad Wasim claimed 3-16 in four overs, including the wickets of Jason Roy, Abdul Bangalzai, and Umar Akmal.
Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored 32 runs in 27 balls, was the second-highest run-scorer in Quetta’s innings.
Pacer Aamer Yamin took 3-37 in four overs.
Playing XIs
Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy, Martin Guptill, Abdul Bangalzai, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w/c), Umar Akmal, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Odean Smith, Qais Ahmad, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain
Karachi Kings: Sharjeel Khan, James Vince, Haider Ali, Matthew Wade(w), Irfan Khan, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim(c), Aamer Yamin, Andrew Tye, Mohammad Amir, Imran Tahir.