DUBAI: Quetta Gladiators recorded the biggest win in the Pakistan Super League history when they defeated Karachi Kings by 67 runs in the 19th match at Dubai International Stadium here on Thursday night. Courtesy a scintillating knock of 90 runs (58 balls) by opener Shane Watson assisted by Kevin Pieterson’s half-century (52 off 34 balls), Quetta posted a score of 180 runs against Karachi. Watson and Pietersen effectively neutralised Karachi’s bowling attack, by smashing boundaries all over the ground. The Australian opener gave one easy catching attempt during the game when he was on 54, but Usman Khan Shinwari dropped it-a mistake costing Imad Wasim’s team the entire match. In the twilight of their careers, Pietersen and Watson tore into Karachi with an enthralling partnership, walloping 86 runs in 58 balls.
In reply, Karachi could only score 113 for the loss of eight wickets as the Sarfraz Ahmaed-led Quaetta’s bowling attack did not allow Karachi to dominate the game in the second innings of the game either. Quaetta cemented their domination in the game by picking two early key wickets in the start of their innings. Muhammad Nawaz stumped opener Joe Denly on the very first over the match, while in the next over Karachi’s decision to send Shahid Afridi did not prove beneficial as the senior batsman in his typical fashion was dismissed by fast bowler Rahat Ali by giving an easy catch over mid-off area. Ravi Bopara was taken by Ben Laughlin on a duck by nicking a ball to the wicketkeeper Sarfraz. In the 10th over of the game, Babar Azam departed on the very first ball of Watson.
Brief scores: Quetta Gladiators 180 for 4 (Shane Watson 90 not out, Kevin Pietersen 52) beat Karachi Kings 113 for 8 (Imad Wasim 35, Anwar Ali 2-16, Rahat Ali 2-29) by 67 runs.
Published in Daily Times, March 10th 2018.