KARACHI: The unbeaten opening stand of Babar Azam and Sharjeel Khan led Karachi Kings to a thumping 10-wicket victory against Lahore Qalandars.
In the charged Pakistan Super League encounter at the National stadium here on Thursday, Lahore Qalandars were asked to bat first by Karachi’s skipper Immad Wasim.
Qalandars’ openers Fakhar Zaman and captain Sohail Akhtar started steadily for a 49-run stand. Fakhar (17 off 13) was dismissed by Arshad Iqbal to pave the way for a couple more including the dangerous Ben Dunk (5), dislodged by Umaid Asif and Chris Lynn (5). Samit Patel too got out cheaply however captain Sohail Akhtar’s brilliant 68 off 49 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, along with Mohammad Hafeez’s 22-ball 35 guided Lahore Qalandars to 150/5 in 20 overs. Arshad Iqbal and Umaid Asif got two wickets each while Chris Jordan picked up one scalp.
Kings’ openers Babar Azam and Sharjeel Khan started sedately and gradually upped the tempo to overhaul the target in 17.1 overs.
Qalandars’ fielding wasn’t up to the mark either as they spilled a few catching opportunities to let Kings’ sailed through comfortably.
The eventual man of the match, Sharjeel Khan stroked his maiden fifth of the PSL5 and stood unbeaten on 59-ball 74, studded with five fours and as many maximums.
With eight fours and a six, captain Babar Azam crafted 69 runs off 49 balls.
Karachi Kings, with nine points in eights games, have jumped to the second slot behind Multan Sultans (12 in eight matches). Peshawar Zalmi, with nine points in as many games, are at the third pedestal, followed by Lahore Qalandars (eight points in nine matches), Islamabad United (seven in nine) and Quetta Gladiators (seven in nine games).