Warner, Hendricks help Kings stay alive; Gladiators crash out

By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: David Warner and Reeza Hendricks struck blistering unbeaten fifties to keep Karachi Kings alive when they conquered Quetta Gladiators by nine wickets in their HBL PSL 11 crucial game at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a competitive target of 196, Kings made light work of the pursuit, reaching 199-1 with nine balls to spare. The win was anchored by a massive 141-run unbeaten partnership for the second wicket between captain David Warner (89*) and Reeza Hendricks (87*).
The chase began with intent as Jason Roy struck 20 off 15 balls before falling to Jahandad Khan in the sixth over. However, that was the only breakthrough Gladiators would celebrate. Warner played the aggressor early on, reaching his fifty in just 25 deliveries, while Hendricks provided steady support before accelerating to his own fifty off 34 balls.
Warner struck four sixes and ten fours in his third fifty of the season. He faced 48 deliveries for 89 not out.
Hendericks, on the other hand, struck four sixes and eight fours in his 48-ball 87 not out.
Gladiators’ bowling attack struggled to find answers on a flat Lahore surface, with Alzarri Joseph and Abrar Ahmed conceding over ten runs per over as Kings’ openers toyed with the field placements.
Earlier, Quetta Gladiators recovered from a disastrous start to post 195-6. Hasan Ali rocked the top order immediately, removing Shamyl Hussain and Khawaja Nafay for ducks in the opening over.
Earlier Karachi Kings won the toss and invited Quetta Gladiators to bat first. The decision to bowl first paid dividends immediately when Hasan Ali got rid of Shamyl Hussain (0) and Khawaja Nafay (0) in the first over to leave Gladiators reeling at 1-2.
However, at this stage skipper Saud Shakeel (57) and former skipper Rilee Rossouw (90) engineered a superb comeback when they added a record 148-run partnership for the third wicket to pave way for posting a decent total on the board.
The previous best third wicket stand for Gladiators was 134 between Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz which the duo had stitched against Islamabad United in Pindi in 2025.
Both Rossouw and Saud played some exquisite strokes during their fine knocks. It was Karachi-based MZ Academy rookie pacer Rizwanullah, who broke the stand by removing Saud Shakeel in the 15th over of the innings.
Saud, who competed his second fifty of the season off 30 balls, smashed nine fours in his 34-ball 57.
In the next over Abbas Afridi got rid of Rossouw, held by Azam Khan behind the stumps to leave Gladiators at 157-4.
Rossouw, who completed his fourth fifty of the season off 36 deliveries, smashed six sixes and eight fours in his 54-ball solid feat.
Dinesh Chandimal’s late 17-ball 30 not out helped Gladiators reach 195-6, a competitive total under hot conditions.
Chandimal smacked one six and three fours in his rapid knock. Gladiators were 58-2 in the powerplay and their 100 came in 10.5 overs. They reached 150 in 14.5 overs and in the last five overs Gladiators amassed 45 runs.
Abbas Afridi (2-22), Hasan Ali (2-41) and Rizwanllah (2-28) were the pick of the bowlers for Kings. The win took Kings to ten points and they will have to wait for their playoff fate as Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen are also in contention. Gladiators have finished their journey at the seventh place with just six points.

Summarised scores:
Quetta Gladiators: 195-6 in 20 overs (Rilee Rossouw 90 (54), Saud Shakeel 57 (34), Hasan Ali 2-41, Rizwanullah 2-48
Karachi Kings: 199-1 in 18.3 overs (David Warner: 89* (48), Reeza Hendricks: 87* (48), Jahandad Khan: 1-38
David Warner (Man of the match)