By Shahid Hashmi
Kieron Pollard struck two sixes off the last two balls to give Karachi Kings a stunning five-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars in Dubai on Saturday (February 25) and keep them in hunt for a play-off spot.
Chasing 156 to win, Karachi needed 37 off the last three overs, 28 in two overs and 14 off the last over bowled by the young Aamer Yamin. But despite taking only three off the first four balls, Pollard kept his cool, smashing the fifth ball over long-off and then the next over deep midwicket to complete a stunning win.
Pollard, who had managed just 57 runs in four innings, finished unbeaten on a 20-ball 45 with four sixes and one boundary.
It left Lahore heart-broken as they now need to pray Karachi lose to Islamabad United on Sunday so that they can sneak through on better net run-rate.
Karachi were well on course of a win with 84 for 2 when the 13th over started, but some sloppy running caused their downfall. They lost Ravi Bopara (2) and Shoaib Malik (6) to run outs, leaving them to score 54 in the last five overs.
Babar Azam had made a 42-ball 49 with seven boundaries to lay the platform but all seemed lost with three run-outs in the middle overs as Karachi went from 72 for 1 to 103 for 5.
It was left to Pollard and Imad Wasim (14-ball 19 with a six and two boundaries) to add 55 runs in just 28 balls to complete the much-needed win.
Earlier, Lahore were lifted to 155 for 6 in their 20 overs thanks to a sixth wicket stand of 55 in 33 balls by Mohammad Rizwan (32 off 24 balls with a six and two fours) and Sohail Tanvir (22 off 14 balls) to give some respectability to the total.
Lahore’s top order committed hara-kiri, with all the top batsmen getting starts but not capitalising. Brendon McCullum scored 31 and Umar Akmal made 21.
For Karachi, Usama Mir and Malik fetched two wickets apiece.
Quetta Gladiators will play Peshawar Zalmi in the second match of the day. If Quetta win, they will finish at the top of the five-team table.