Qalandars conquer Kings for their second win

By our correspondent
KARACHI: Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell hit solid fifties and bowlers then did a terrific job as Lahore Qalandars pulled off their second win from three games when they demolished Karachi Kings by 65 runs in their third round show of the HBL PSL X at the National Stadium Karachi on Tuesday night.
Fakhar struck a 47-ball 76 and Daryl Mitchell belted a 41-ball 75 to catapult Lahore Qalandars to a decent total of 201-6 in the allotted 20 overs.
In response, Kings were folded for a mere 136 runs in the 20th over with Shaheen Afridi (3-34) and Rishad Hossain (26) doing a terrific job with the ball.
The victory took Qalandars to four points from three appearances. This was the first loss for Kings after they had notched a win against Multan Sultans in their opener at the same venue a few days ago.
After opting to bat first Lahore Qalandars had a disastrous start. Hasan Ali removed Mohammad Naeem (7) and Abdullah Shafique (6) early to put a lot of pressure on Lahore Qalandars.
However at this stage Fakhar Zaman (76) and Daryl Mitchell (75) batted superbly to take Qalandars to a decent total.
The duo batted with ample aggression which was direly needed.
They added 125 runs for the third wicket association. Hasan Ali in his second spell broke the partnership by getting rid of Fakhar. Fakhar, who brought in his 21st PSL fifty off 29 balls, smashed five sixes and six fours in his 47-ball knock. This was also his second successive fifty in the season.
He also hammered spinner Khushdil Shah for three sixes in the tenth over of the innings which yielded 20 runs. And the six he hit off Mohammad Abbas was a treat to watch when he hammered it high towards onside.
Daryl Mitchell, who scored fifty off 30 balls, equally batted well. The right-handed New Zealander hit two sixes and nine fours in his 41-ball 75.
He also smashed Abbas Afridi for four fours in the 11th over that yielded 16 runs.
Sam Billings made a 10-ball 19 with one six and two fours while Sikandar Raza remained not out on a five-ball ten which featured two fours.
Hasan Ali was the star performer with the ball and his four-fer helped him to elevate to the summit of the leading wicket-takers chart with 113 wickets in 84 games. Wahab Riaz has also to his credit 113 wickets but he took them in 88 matches.
Abbas Afridi got 1-47 in his four overs.
Lahore Qalandars scored 44-2 in powerplay while they made 52 in the last five overs.
Chasing a tough total Karachi Kings got off to a bad start. Shaheen Afridi got rid of David Warner (0) off the second ball of the innings when he edged a delivery that pitched on the off-stump with the Australian great edging it to keeper Sam Billings. And Shaheen then got another big wicket of James Vince (0) in the same over when the ball deflected off his pads onto the stumps.
Kings kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Asif Afridi, the left-arm spinner, got a crucial wicket of Tim Seifert who chipped in with a 22-ball 18 with three fours while Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain sent Shan Masood back who belted a 14-ball 18 with three fours. The drama continued and in the same over Rishad Hossain got rid of Irfan Khan (6) before Sikandar Raza removing Arafat Minhas (0) in the next over and Kings were gasping at 47-6 in the ninth over. Rishad then had Abbas Afridi (1) to push his side close to victory.
However at this stage Hasan Ali and Khushdil Shah showed resistance and both added 48 runs for the eighth wicket stand to bring some respectability to the total. Shaheen Afridi, who had a terrific first spell, bowled Hasan Ali who chipped in with a 25-ball 27, striking two sixes and two fours.
Khushdil Shah at this stage used long handle and managed a few delightful strokes to entertain the crowd.
Khushdil, who was bowled by Haris Rauf in the penultimate over, struck two sixes and four fours in his 27-ball 39. He dominated 36 runs quick partnership for the ninth wicket with Adam Milne who hit a rapid seven-ball 16 and was the last man which was removed by Sikandar Raza. He hit one six and two fours in his brief stay at the wicket.
He was ably backed by the Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain who once again lived up to the billing by taking 3-26 in four overs. Sikandar Raza claimed 2-13 in 2.1 overs.
The win took Qalandars to four points from three games..
Kings trail at two points after a couple of games.
Shaheen Afridi (3-34) led his bowling attack with terrific bowling. He removed the key men David Warner and inform James Vince (0) for ducks to put Qalandars to give a fine start to Qalandars total defence.