DUBAI: An all-round performance led Karachi Kings to a 19-run victory over Quetta Gladiators in their first match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) here at the Dubai International Stadium, ARY News reported.

Defending a modest 150-run target Karachi Kings needed wickets to pull off a winning start to the third edition and they did exactly what the analysts had summed up.

Skipper Imad Wasim (2-19) chipped in with key wickets of Asad Shafiq and Rilee Rossouw to push Quetta on back foot at 45-4.

Then, much to the joy of crowd, Afridi came into action and dismissed Quetta skipper for seven and then sent a dangerous Umar Amin (31) back with a stunning catch.

Amin had hoisted pacer Mohammad Irfan to long-on where Afridi jumed high and took a right handed catch, realizing that he could go out of the ground he threw the ball up and completed the catch by re-entering the ground.

OUT! 12.3 Mohammad Irfan to Umar Amin
Watch the match at https://t.co/NmtKmiJDoh#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #KKvQG #Cricingif #PSL2018 pic.twitter.com/XV3xWOcjyo

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 23, 2018

The catch made the crowd as well as the Karachi Kings entourage in the royal box ecstatic.

But Karachi Kings still had to fight hard to finish the game as Mohammad Nawaz (30 off 20 balls with three fours and a six) and Hasan Khan gave them a scare through a 43-run seventh wicket stand. Amir finished with xxx

Tymal Mills (2-27) and Mohammad Irfan (2-36) also chipped in with useful wickets.

Karachi Kings, who won the toss and batted, could not pile up a big total.

Colin Ingram hit a fast 21-ball 41 with five boundaries and two sixes but Karachi Kings hard hitters like Shahid Afridi and Imad Wasim failed to give the impetus to the innings. Only 38 were added in the last five overs with Afridi making only four and Imad two.

Karachi Kings were off to a good start of 34 as both Khurram Manzoor (39-ball 35) and Joe Denly (14) were stedy. Denly was unlucky to get out after showing hint of acceleration.

Twenty20 cricket’s top batsman Babar Azam did disappoint as he never looked in command, scoring 10 off 12 balls before edging Rahat Ali behind the wicket.

Khurram and Ingram did pace up the innings, adding 26 for the third wicket as Karachi were 111 after 15 overs. Khurram holed out after managing just two boundaries. Ingram hit five boundaries and two sixes.

Lahore Qalandars take on Multan Sultans in the second match of the day.

LIVE UPDATES:

Quetta Gladiators (130/9) (20 overs)

Karachi Kings (149/9) (20 overs)

Over 20: M. Irfan (0-4-1-2-1-W)

Hasan Khan 17 (14)
Archer 5 (4)

Over 19: TS Mills (0-0-2lb-0-2-W)

Hasan Khan 14 (12)

Anwar Ali 7 (10)

Over 18: M. Amir (0-W-4-0-0-1)

Hasan Khan 14 (12)
Anwar Ali 5 (4)

M. Nawaz 30 (20)

Over 17: TS Mills (1-2-1-1-0-1b)

M. Nawaz 30 (18)
Hasan Khan 14 (14)

Over 16: M. Amir (4-1-2-1-1-1)

Hasan Khan 12 (10)
M. Nawaz 27 (14)

Over 15: Irfan (4-6-4-1-1-1)

M. Nawaz 21 (11)
Hasan Khan 8 (7)

Over 14: Afridi (0-3-1-0-1-1)

M. Nawaz 5 (5)
Hasan Khan 7 (6)

Over 13: M. Irfan (1-2-W-1-2-1)

M. Nawaz 3 (2)
Hasan Khan 3 (4)

Umar Amin 31 (31)

Over 12: Afridi (2-4-1w-1-W-0-1)

Umar Amin 29 (29)
M. Nawaz 1 (2)

Sarfaraz 7 (6)

Over 11: Imad Wasim (0-1-1-1-1-1)

Umar Amin 22 (26)
Sarfaraz 7 (5)

Over 10: Afridi (0-1-0-4-1-1)

Umar Amin 19 (22)
Sarfaraz 5 (3)

Over 9: Imad Wasim (1-1-2-0-W-1)

Umar Amin 15 (17)
Sarfaraz 0 (0)

Rossouw 18 (19)

Over 8: Afridi (0-0-0-0-1-0)

Rossouw 15 (15)
Umar Amin 15 (17)

Over 7: TS Mills (2-1lb-6-1-0-4)

Rossouw 14 (10)
Umar Amin 15 (16)

Over 6: M. Irfan (4-0-0-0-0-0)

Rossouw 7 (8)
Umar Amin 9 (12)

Over 5: TS Mills (W-0-3-4-0-0)

Umar Amin 9 (12)
Rossouw 3 (2)

K Pieterson 6 (4)

Over 4: M. Amir (0-0-0-0-0-4)

K Pieterson 6 (3)
Umar Amin 5 (9)

Over 3: Imad Wasim (W-0-1-2-4-0)

K Pieterson 6 (3)
Umar Amin 1 (3)

Asad Shafiq 2 (6)

Over 2: M. Amir (1-0-0-0-W-0)

Umar Amin 0 (1)
Asad Shafiq 2 (5)

Shane Watson 1 (6)

Over 1: Imad Wasim (1-1-0-0-1lb-0)

Shane Watson 1 (2)
Asad Shafiq 1 (4)

 

 

Over 20: Shane Watson (W-W-4-W-4-1)

TS Mills 5 (2)
M. Amir 0 (0)

M. Rizwan 5 (3)

M. Irfan 0 (1)

Shahid Afridi 4 (8)

Over 19: JC Archer (1-0-1nb-1-W-1)

Shahid Afridi 4 (7)
M. Rizwan 1 (1)

Imad Wasim 2 (3)

Over 18: Anwar Ali (1lb-0-W-1-2-0)

Shahid Afridi 2 (3)

Imad Wasim 1 (1)

 Ravi Bopara 24 (18)

Over 17: JC Archer (0-4-4-1-W-0)

Ravi Bopara 24 (16)
Colin Ingram 41 (21)

Over 16: Rahat Ali (0-4-2-1-0-4)

Ravi Bopara 15 (11)

Colin Ingram 41 (20)

Over 15: Anwar Ali (1-1-4-2-6-4)

Colin Ingram 37 (18)
Ravi Bopara 8 (7)

Over 14: Shane Watson (0-1lb-2-0-0-0)

Ravi Bopara 7 (6)

Colin Ingram 20 (13)

Over 13: Anwar Ali (2-W-1-1-1-4)

Ravi Bopara 5 (2)

Colin Ingram 18 (9)

Khurram Manzoor: 35 (39)

Over 12: Rahat Ali (2-1-4-6-1-1)

Khurram Manzoor: 33 (37)

Colin Ingram 18 (9)

Over 11: Hasan Khan (4-0-1-0-1-0)

Khurram Manzoor: 29 (34)

Colin Ingram 7 (6)

Over 10: Rahat Ali (W-1-1-1-0-0)

Khurram Manzoor: 27 (29)

Colin Ingram 2 (2)

Babar Azam 10 (11)

Over 09: Hasan Khan (1-1-0-1-1-0)

Khurram Manzoor: 27 (29)

Babar Azam 10 (11)

Over 8 Rahat Ali (1-1w-1-1-1-1-1)

Khurram Manzoor 25 (25)
Babar Azam 8 (9)

Over 7 Hasan Khan (1-2-1-1-1-1)

Babar Azam 5 (6)
Khurram Manzoor 22 (22)

Over 6 JC Archer (0-1-0-1-1-1)

Babar Azam 2 (3)
Khurram Manzoor 18 (19)

Over 05: Shane Watson (0-4-w-0-0-1)

Khurram Manzoor: 16 (15)

Joe Denly: 10 (10) (Run out)

Over 04: Mohammad Nawaz (1-1-0-1-1-1)

Khurram Manzoor: 11 (10)

Joe Denly: 10 (10)

Over 03: Shane Watson (1-1-0-2-1-1)

Joe Denly: 12 (11)

Khurram Manzoor: 8 (7)

Over 02: Jofra Archer (1LB-1-4-2-1-4)

Khurram Manzoor:  6(5)

Joe Denly: 8 (7)

Over 01: Anwar Ali (1-4B-0-0-0-1-0)

Joe Denly: 1 (3)

Khurram Manzoor: 1 (3)

Here is how Twitterati expressing their support to Karachi Kings

#KarachiKings haters go and sleep👊 cuz today ,, We will winners inshaAllah👑✌😎

— Maryam Fatima (@MaryamF1011) February 23, 2018

Hello #KarachiKings #KarachiJeetayGa

— Umme Hani (@Karachi_kings_) February 23, 2018

All the very Best to my Team#KarachiKings
Cant wait to watch @SAfridiOfficial after ages😍
Pls Lala do stay on the crease for few minutes ☺️ pic.twitter.com/FhcfSsPrbM

— Nasreen (@Nas_k27) February 23, 2018

Karachi Kings

Head coach: Mickey Arthur

Captain: Imad Wasim

Squad: Imad Wasim (c), Babar Azam, Joe Denly, Colin Ingram, Khurram Manzoor, Lendl Simmons, Saifullah Bangash, Eoin Morgan, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammed Taha, Tabish Khan, Ravi Bopara, Hasan Mohsin, Shahid Afridi, David Wiese, Usama Mir, Tymal Mills, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan Shinwari

Quetta Gladiators

Head coach: Moin Khan

Captain: Sarfraz Ahmed

Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Rilee Rossouw, Jason Roy, Kevin Pietersen, Rameez Raja, Asad Shafiq, Shane Watson, Umar Amin, Mohammad Nawaz, Mahmudullah, Jofra Archer, Saad Ali, Saud Shakeel, Rashid Khan, Anwar Ali, Hassan Khan Mohammad, Mir Hamza, Rahat Ali