Fakhar Zaman’s blazing 35-ball 54 and Abdullah Shafique’s brilliant 39-ball 55 steered Lahore Qalandars to 177-5 against Karachi Kings in the 26th match of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Karachi on Saturday.
After being put into bat, the Qalandars were looking to rebound their innings following the departure of Fakhar Zaman, who finally notched up his first fifty in the ninth edition of the PSL.
Earlier, after facing an early hiccup with the loss of Mirza Baig (4 off 7), Zaman finally broke the shackles with the willow and went on to clobber five boundaries and two sixes in his 35-ball 54, before he was run out by Irfan Khan Niazi.
It was a 70-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique that provided some impetus to the Qalandars’ innings.
Sikandar Raza remained unbeaten, scoring 16-ball 22, lacing with two boundaries and one six.
David Wiese (24 off 9 deliveries) had played a fiery and unconquered cameo, studding with three sixes.
Shai Hope (9 off 11) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (1 off 3) failed to show resistance with the bat.
For the Kings, Zahid Mahmood (2-27) remained a standout bowler, scooping up two wickets.
Anwar Ali (1–36) and Blessing Muzarabani (1–40) took a scalp each.
Shoaib Malik (0-28) and Hasan Ali (0-30) remained wicketless.
TOSS
Karachi Kings have elected to field first against Lahore Qalandars in the domestic premium tournament.
TEAMS
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Abdullah Shafique, Shai Hope (wk), Sikandar Raza, Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti, David Wiese, Shaheen Afridi (c), Jahandad Khan, Zaman Khan, Tayyab Abbas
Karachi Kings: James Vince, Tim Seifert (wk), Shan Masood (c), Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard, Irfan Khan Niazi, Anwar Ali, Arafat Minhas, Hassan Ali, Zahid Mehmood, Blessing Muzarabani
