Karachi Kings maintain perfect record in PSL 2018 with victory over Lahore Qalandars

Denzil Pinto 00:58 27/02/2018
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    • Karachi Kings continued their fine form in the Pakistan Super League with a 27-run over Lahore Qalandars on Monday – their third in a row in the competition.

    Karachi were off to a poor start and were struggling at 117-7 before Ravi Bopara’s half-century saw them reach 159-7. That was enough as Shahid Afridi (3-19), and Usman Khan (3-26) knocked Lahore down.

    While Afridi proved he is a force to be reckoned with, Usman roared back into form after recovering from a debilitating stress fracture of the back.

    It was another defeat for Aaqib Javed’s Qalandars but at least their captain Brendon McCullum hit 44 off 30 balls. Here are the key moments from Monday’s match.

    PATIENCE KEY FOR LAHORE

    When Joe Denly smashed a 104-metre six into the crowds, chances of another frustrating evening for Lahore Qalandars increased.

    But they stuck to their gameplan and once Denly fell, Babar Azam (0) and Khurram Manzoor (8) quickly followed. Spinners Sunil Narine (2-18) and Yasir Shah 2-25), particularly, brought the run-rate down.

    Lahore were incisive on the field. Shaheen Afridi stole the limelight with an extraordinary effort, volleying the ball at deep cover to Umar Akmal to complete the catch and end Colin Ingram’s stay.

    BOPARA STANDS TALL

    Karachi were in real danger with two of their top-five batsmen failing to reach double figures. Imad Wasim and Ingram kept the run-rate going but it was Bopara’s blistering assault (50 not out from 34 balls with two fours and as many sixes) that saw his team reach 159-7.

    The England batsman shared a 50-run stand with Ingram before a vital 42-run partnership with Mohammad Irfan, reaching his half-century off the last ball with his second six.

    OVER TO FORGET FOR MILLS

    In T20 cricket, there’s no room for error if you’re a bowler. Left-arm pacer Tymal Mills will remember the diktat after he bowled a dreadful over in his opening spell which included three no balls and one wide.

    His over proved to be expensive, as expected, with 15 coming off 10 balls. He returned to take two wickets.

    BOOM BOOM AFRIDI 

    The Pakistan star is always a threat with the ball. He is 37 but his leg-spin has not lost his zip as he finished with figures of 3-19 from four overs. He even got an accomplished batsman of spin like Umar Akmal stumped, which shows his effectiveness.

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