Karachi Kings. (Photo Source: RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP via Getty Images)
Imad Wasim-led Karachi Kings ended Multan Sultans’ dominant run in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after emerging victorious by 66 runs at the National Bank cricket arena in Karachi on Sunday, February 26.
Multan skipper Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to field first in match 14 of the ongoing league. However, the decision seemed to have backfired as Karachi openers Matthew Wade and James Vince handed a decent head start before the latter departed for 27 off 12 balls.
What followed was a scintillating batting performance by Wade and Tayyab Tahir, who carved out an important partnership. The duo stitched 109 runs off just 83 balls which steered the side to attain a competitive score of 167 runs for the loss of three wickets in their stipulated 20 overs of the contest. Young pace sensation Ihsanullah claimed two of those three scalps.
Rizwan-led Sultans humbled in run chase
Prior to the contest, Multan Sultans were riding high on the back of four consecutive wins in the league and were comfortably sitting atop the points table. Whereas, Karachi had just one win from their five outings and desperately required a win to boost their morale.
In response to the competitive total, the lethal opening pair of Shan Masood and skipper Rizwan added 41 runs to the first wicket [artnership before the former departed for 25 off 16 balls. Soon after his dismissal, Tabraiz Shamsi, Shoaib Malik, Akif Javed, and Imad Wasim worked in tandem to get the wickets at regular intervals and mount pressure during the run chase.
From 57 for the loss of two wickets, the side faced a terrible collapse and were dished out for 101 runs, thereby handing a massive 66-run win to Karachi. Shamsi and veteran spinner Shoaib Malik scalped three wickets each whereas Imad and Akif added four wickets between them to wrap up the contest.
The dominant performance by the home side will have surely handed them confidence for the forthcoming games. Whereas, Multan will need to swiftly bounce back considering they play defending champions Lahore Qalandars on March 4.
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