(Qalandars 155 for 6 in 20 overs)
(Kings 158 for 5 in 20 overs)
Qalandars Batting Gifs:
Delport CAUGHT off Amir 0.5 overs
DUBAI February 25: West Indian Kieron Pollard struck two sixes off the last two balls of the match to give Karachi Kings an improbable win over Lahore Qalandars in a virtual play-off for the final place in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 play-offs.
Kings are virtually through to the last four stage and only a massive defeat at the hands of Islamabad United tomorrow will send them packing.
Man-of-the-match Pollard was at the crease with Kings needing 10 off the last two balls. Qalandars’ Aamer Yamin’s penultimate ball was sent over long-off for a six while the last ball met the same treatment as Pollard muscled it over the deep mid-wicket region
The match winning shot triggered wild celebrations in the Kings’ camp as well as their section of supporters that had packed in at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Kings had seemingly lost track of their chase after Babar Azam was dismissed for 49, Mahela Jayawardene brought into the eleven at the expense of Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik and Ravi Bopara were all dismissed run out as Kings searched for quick runs in their 156 run chase.
Pollard hit four sixes and one four in his 20 ball 45 run innings while Imad Wasim remained undefeated on 19, the two added 55 runs in their unbroken partnership that helped Kings earn their immensely valuable two points.
Kings have six points from seven games while Qalandars end their campaign with six from eight games.
Earlier an unbroken 55 run alliance between Mohammad Rizwan 32* and Sohail Tanvir 22* took the Qalandars to their 155 run tally, the two came together with their team in a spot of bother at 100 for six in the 15th over.
Both ran well between the wickets besides hitting the odd boundary during their 33 ball partnership after Qalandars had slumped from 71 for two to 100 for six in a space 29 deliveries.
Captain Brendon McCullum scored 31 off 28 balls while Fakhar Zaman (19) and Umar Akmal (20) made useful contributions to the Qalandars total before the Kings’ spinners triggered the mid-innings collapse.
Shoaib Malik bowled with great control to end his four over stint with two wickets for a mere 21 runs, Usama Mir was taken for 38 runs in his four over quota yet got the important scalps of McCullum and Akmal.
