Ahmed Shehzad and Asad Shafiq hit quick-fire fifties as Quetta easily chased down target of 155.

By Abdullah Ansari (23rd February, 2016)

Karachi Kings Team

Babar Azam, Kumar Sangakkara*, Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik, Ravi Bopara, Kieron Pollard, Imad Wasim, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Amir, Usama Mir, Usman Khan Shinwari.

Quetta Gladiators Team

Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Kevin Pietersen, Rilee Rossouw, Sarfraz Ahmed*, Mahmudullah Riad, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Khan, Tymal Mills, Mir Hamza.

Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and opted to bowl as Quetta made a few changes as Shafiq, Mills and Hamza replaced Nasim, Babar and Perera. Karachi started well once again with Sangakkara looking ominous as 46 were taken off the first 5 overs. However, the runs dried up after the powerplay and Mahmudullah came on to bowl, making the first breakthrough as Sangakkara was stumped. Gayle and Babar stalled at the crease with the former's struggles continuing and Babar fell to Mahmudullah soon, trying to up the ante. Shoaib Malik became the off-spinner third victim. Mir Hamza bowled an expensive over but Gayle fell to Anwar Ali, dismissed for 29 off 34 balls. Pollard and Imad finished with a flourish in the last over, taking 21 off the young Hamza as Karachi finished at 158/4.

The Quetta openers began well, regularly rotating strike with Shafiq the first to go after the bowlers with a flurry of boundaries as 49 were scored off the six powerplay overs. Shehzad then joined in, hitting 2 fours and 3 sixes in two overs off Usama and Imad as Quetta raced along. The partnership reached hundred as both batsmen reached their fifties. Shehzad was the first to be dismissed as he top edged a bouncer by Sohail Khan. Pietersen was run out without facing a ball then Shafiq fell, caught at the boundary off Sohail as Karachi got a glimmer of hope. However, Rossouw and Sarfraz settled down despite the former's struggles against the spin and he was finally dismissed by Usama with just 13 remaining to get. Sarfraz finished it off with a boundary as Quetta sealed a dominant six-wicket win.

Next match: Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi

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