Karachi Kings knock Quetta Gladiators out of PSL 11 with nine-wicket win

LAHORE: Karachi Kings defeated Quetta Gladiators by nine wickets in the 37th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, ending Quetta’s campaign in the tournament.

Chasing a target of 196, Karachi reached the total in the 19th over for the loss of just one wicket. The chase was built around commanding unbeaten knocks from captain David Warner and Reeza Hendricks after an opening stand had given the innings early momentum.

Karachi made a brisk start through Jason Roy and Warner, with the pair taking the score beyond 50. Quetta got their first breakthrough when Jahandad Khan dismissed Roy for 20 off 15 balls, an innings that included four boundaries, to end a 58-run partnership.

After Roy’s departure, Hendricks joined Warner and the two kept the scoring rate high while ensuring there were no further setbacks. Warner brought up his sixth PSL half-century as Karachi crossed the 100-run mark, while Hendricks also reached his fifth PSL fifty during an aggressive stand that took the total beyond 150.

The pair then carried Karachi past the target and also completed a 100-run partnership. Warner remained unbeaten on 89 from 48 deliveries, striking 10 fours and four sixes, while Hendricks finished on 87 not out off 48 balls with eight fours and four sixes.

Gladiators recover after early collapse

Earlier, Quetta Gladiators posted 195-6 in their 20 overs after recovering from a difficult start. Hasan Ali struck twice in the opening over, removing both Shamyl Hussain and Khawaja Nafay without either batter scoring.

Quetta then rebuilt through captain Saud Shakeel and Rilee Rossouw, who counterattacked and lifted the score past 50. Rossouw went on to register his 14th PSL half-century, while Shakeel completed his fifth PSL fifty as the two added 147 runs for the third wicket.

The stand was broken in the 15th over when Rizwanullah dismissed Shakeel for 57 off 34 balls, an innings featuring nine fours, with Quetta then 149-3 in 14.3 overs.

Rossouw continued to score freely after Hasan Nawaz joined him, taking the total beyond 150. His innings ended at 90 off 54 balls when Abbas Afridi dismissed him at 157-4 in 15.3 overs. Rossouw’s knock included eight fours and six sixes.

Rizwanullah then struck again to remove Hasan Nawaz for two, while Afridi claimed his second wicket by dismissing Jahandad Khan for three, leaving Quetta at 185-6 after 19 overs.

Quetta closed on 195-6, with Dinesh Chandimal unbeaten on 30 off 17 deliveries, including three fours and a six, while Alzarri Joseph made two. For Karachi, Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali and Rizwanullah took two wickets each.

Result ends Quetta’s run

The result gave Karachi a comprehensive victory and brought Quetta Gladiators’ PSL 11 campaign to an end.