Gladiators stun Kings with late comeback in PSL thriller

Quetta Gladiators staged a late fightback to edge Karachi Kings by five runs after a sensational finish in their crucial HBL PSL X game at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Friday night.

Chasing a target of 143, Kings were cruising at 93-2 and looked set for an easy win. However, the dismissal of Tim Seifert for 47 at the same score triggered a dramatic collapse. They slumped to 115-8 by the 18th over. Needing 17 off the final over from Faheem Ashraf, Kings could only manage 11 runs and finished at 137-8. Hasan Ali remained unbeaten with a 13-ball 24, hitting one six and three fours.

Credit goes to pacers Mohammad Amir (2-26), Khurram Shahzad (2-31), and Mohammad Wasim Jr (2-22), who bowled brilliantly.

Kings were dealt an early blow when Mohammad Amir dismissed David Warner (4) in his opening over. Tim Seifert and James Vince then stabilized the innings with a 73-run partnership for the second wicket. Vince struck one six and three fours in his 29-ball 30 before part-timer Saud Shakeel removed him, caught by Rilee Rossouw at extra cover.

Karachi Kings’ pace trio restrict Quetta Gladiators to a total of 142 in 19.3 overs. X/@thePSLt20

Seifert played a solid knock, scoring 47 off 26 balls with two sixes and five fours, but his dismissal by Wasim Jr marked the beginning of the collapse. Shahzad then removed Shan Masood, caught superbly by keeper Kusal Mendis, while spinner Abrar Ahmad dismissed Khushdil Shah (0), leaving Kings at 97-5 in the 15th over.

The slide continued as Mohammad Amir sent back Mohammad Nabi (4), and Shahzad dismissed Abbas Afridi (0). With 36 runs needed from 21 balls, Wasim Jr also dismissed Omair Bin Yousuf (11). Hasan Ali hit a few powerful strokes at the end but couldn’t get Kings over the line.

This was Gladiators’ second win in four matches, while the loss left Kings with six points from six games.

Earlier, Karachi Kings skipper David Warner won a crucial toss and opted to field first. Hasan Ali put the Kings in a dominant position early, removing the top order with three quick wickets. He was well supported by Abbas Afridi and Mohammad Nabi (1-21), reducing Gladiators to 69-5 by the ninth over.

Drama began in the second over as Hasan Ali removed openers Saud Shakeel (6) and Finn Allen (0) in quick succession. Saud was caught at point by Shan Masood, while Allen was taken by Abbas Afridi at mid-on. In his next over, Hasan dismissed Rilee Rossouw (10), whose attempted pull took an inside edge and crashed onto the stumps.

Rossouw had hit two fours in his brief stay. The slide continued as Mohammad Nabi bowled New Zealand’s Mark Chapman (4), leaving Gladiators reeling at 44-4 in the sixth over.

Afridi then dismissed the well-set Kusal Mendis, caught in the deep by Vince after scoring 36 off 22 balls with five fours.

At this stage, Hasan Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf stabilized the innings, adding 59 runs for the sixth wicket. The stand was broken when young pacer Fawad Ali (1-19) removed Hasan Nawaz, who made 35 off 34 balls, including two fours. Mir Hamza bowled Wasim Jr (1) in the next over, and the tail folded quickly.

Faheem Ashraf top-scored with a 43 off 27 balls, smashing three sixes and four fours, before being dismissed by Abbas Afridi in the 19th over.

Hasan Ali (3-31) continued his fine form, becoming the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps, overtaking Islamabad United’s Jason Holder (12 in five matches). Abbas Afridi (2-31) and Mir Hamza (2-24) also troubled the Gladiators' batting line-up.