Lahore Qalandars posted a formidable total of 199 runs as Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique delivered blistering half-centuries against Karachi Kings in the 35th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Kings captain David Warner’s decision to field first backfired as the holders piled up 199/6 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a century-plus partnership between Fakhar and Shafique.
The Qalandars, however, had a shaky start to their innings as Warner sent back young opener Mohammad Farooq (18) with a direct hit in the third over with just 24 runs on the board.
Fakhar was joined by Shafique in the middle, and the duo steered the Qalandars into a commanding position by knitting a 110-run partnership for the second wicket off just 61 deliveries until the former was dismissed by Moeen Ali in the 14th over.
The left-handed opener made a brisk 61 off 41 deliveries, hitting five fours and three sixes.
Moeen struck again in his next over, getting rid of Charith Asalanka (zero), and brought the total down to 148/3.
Shafique, on the other hand, was cleaned up by debutant Rizwanullah in the next over and walked back after top-scoring for the Qalandars with a 36-ball 62, studded with five fours and three sixes.
With the scoreboard reading 160/4 in 16.5 overs, all-rounders Sikandar Raza and Daniel Sams (20) stitched a handy 23-run partnership, which culminated with the latter’s run-out on the fifth delivery of the penultimate over.
Meanwhile, Raza remained unbeaten with a 12-ball 18 and ensured adding crucial runs to the Qalandars’ total at the backend with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who made 10 off four.
Moeen was the standout bowler for the Kings as he took two wickets for just 26 runs in his four overs, while Rizwanullah and Hasan Ali made one scalp.
