PSL 10: Karachi Kings Dismiss Quetta Gladiators for 142 Runs

Lahore-Karachi Kings’ fast bowlers delivered a clinical performance, skittling out Quetta Gladiators for just 142 in Match 15 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. After electing to bat, Saud Shakeel’s side faltered early and never recovered, losing wickets at regular intervals.

Hasan Ali ripped through the top order, dismissing captain Saud, Finn Allen and Rilee Rossouw, setting the tone for the innings.

Kusal Mendis stood out with a brisk 36 off 22 deliveries, but lacked support from the other end. Faheem Ashraf provided a late surge, smashing 43 off just 27 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes, but the rest of the line-up crumbled under pressure.

Abbas Afridi complemented Ali’s effort with two wickets of his own, including the prized scalp of Mendis. Pacer Mir Hamza chipped in with two key wickets to wrap up the tail.

The batting side could only manage to scrape together 142 in their allotted 20 overs.

Earlier,  Karachi Kings won the toss and elected to field first against Quetta Gladiators.

With Karachi finding their rhythm and Quetta struggling to regain momentum, the stage is set for an enthralling encounter under the lights.

David Warner’s Karachi Kings have surged to second position on the points table with three wins from five matches, including a nail-biting two-wicket victory over Peshawar Zalmi in their last outing. The Kings’ overseas contingent has finally found their groove, providing the stability and firepower needed to mount a serious title challenge.

In stark contrast, Saud Shakeel’s Quetta Gladiators have stumbled after a promising start. Following an impressive opening win against Peshawar, they’ve suffered consecutive defeats, including a comprehensive loss to these very same Kings earlier in the tournament when they were bundled out for just 119 in response to Karachi’s 175.

Despite their recent struggles, history favours the Gladiators in this matchup. Quetta holds a commanding 12-6 lead in their head-to-head record against Karachi, underscoring their historical dominance in this fixture. In Lahore specifically, they won their only previous encounter at this venue.

However, recent form suggests this historical advantage may count for little on Friday, with momentum firmly behind the Kings.

James Vince, Hasan Ali and David Warner are the key players to watch out for in the Karachi Kings side. James Vince, the English batter has been in scintillating form, accumulating 186 runs from five innings at a strike rate of 172.22. His match-winning 70 against Quetta earlier this season will still be fresh in memory.

As of Hasan Ali, he is one of the tournament’s standout bowlers with 10 wickets from five matches at an impressive average of 16, his form has been central to Karachi’s success. Whereas, David Warner, the experienced Australian captain brings invaluable leadership and explosive batting to the top order, forming a formidable partnership with Vince.

On the other hand, Quetta Gladiators has Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Amir and Aamer Jamal as the main performers. Shakeel, the captain showed resilience with an unbeaten 33 in the previous encounter against Karachi and will need to lead from the front again.

Amir is a skillful left-arm pacer with a history of tormenting any batting order. He last took 3/15 against Karachi in a memorable 2018 clash. And Jamal, the promising all-rounder has yet to fully showcase his capabilities this season but could be the X-factor Quetta desperately needs.