Lahore Qalandars eliminate Karachi Kings from PSL 10

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars knocked Karachi Kings out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 after winning the Eliminator by six wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Set to chase 191, Qalandars got over the line over the loss of four wickets in 18.4 overs, with eight balls to spare.

Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naseem set up the chase with a 42-run opening partnership in 4.2 overs.

Naeem was removed by Hasan Ali after scoring 14 off 12 balls to bring Abdullah Shafique to the crease.

Shafique and Fakhar Zaman then stitched a 33-run partnership for the second wicket to take the home side to 75 in eight overs.

The opening batter was dismissed after scoring 47 off 28 balls, with the help of five fours and three sixes.

Abdullah Shafique was then involved in an 83-run partnership with Kusal Perera (30) to put Lahore Qalandars in a strong position.

Shafique departed after a well-made 65 off 35, laced with three fours and five sixes.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa remained unbeaten on 23 alongside Asif Ali (1)* as Qalandars chased down the target in 18.4 overs.

For Karachi Kings, Hasan Ali picked up two wickets, while Fawad Ali and Mir Hamza bagged a wicket each.

Earlier, fifty from skipper David Warner helped the Kings post 190 against the Qalandars in the Eliminator of the PSL 10.

Opting to bat first, the Kings were off to a steady start as Warner and Tim Seifert provided them a 43-run opening partnership.

Seifert fell to Shaheen Afridi after scoring 16 off eight balls.

Following his dismissal, James Vince joined David Warner; however, his brief stay was ended by Shakib Al Hasan in the seventh over.

Vince departed after scoring just four runs.

Saad Baig departed in the 11th over after scoring 11, while Irfan Khan was removed after scoring 18 as Karachi Kings were reduced to 137/4 in 14.3 overs.

David Warner fell to Mohammad Naeem in the following over after scoring 75 off 52 balls, with the help of eight fours and three sixes.

Mohammad Nabi scored 16, Abbas Afridi made two runs, while Hasan Ali was dismissed for a duck.

Khushdil Shah remained unbeaten on 27 off 14 as Kings posted 190/8 on the scoreboard in 20 overs.

For Lahore Qalandars, Haris Rauf picked up three wickets, while Shaheen Afridi bagged two wickets.

Zaman Khan, Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Naeem picked up a wicket each.

Playing XIs

Karachi Kings: David Warner (c), Tim Seifert, James Vince, Saad Baig (wk), Khushdil Shah, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mohammad Nabi, Fawad Ali, Abbas Afridi, Hassan Ali, and Mir Hamza.

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Kusal Perera (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shakib Al Hasan, Asif Ali, Shaheen Afridi (c), Salman Mirza, Zaman Khan, and Haris Rauf.

Quetta Gladiators have qualified for the final after beating Islamabad United a day earlier in Qualifier 1.

The winner of the PSL 10 Eliminator will face the defending champions in Eliminator 2 of the ongoing tournament.

It is to be noted here that the PSL 10 was suspended for nine days due to rising tensions between Pakistan and India.

After both countries agreed on the ceasefire, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced the resumption of the tournament from May 17.