That will be all from our side as we wrap up our coverage of this PSL game between Karachi Kings and the Quetta Gladiators. For now, it will be Soumarya Dutta taking your leave on behalf of my co-commentator Ayan Chatterjee and Scorer/Analyst Zeeshan Naiyer!
ShanMasood(Karachi Kings Captain): "Thank You. I and the management were clear that we will bat first. There was moisture and freshness and it helped the seamers and spinners as well. Tricky one that we lost a bit. Important to win today and happy to get over the line today. Happy with the effort from the boys. We did not panic after they got off to a good start and then Hasan and Blessing brought it back. I am happy with the intent shown by the bowlers bowling in tandem. Disappointed with my own batting display and looking at that area. Happy with the team's performance so far. I hope we can replicate this performance in the coming days and in the next game. That is the challenge for us to keep it forward. This is cricket and anything can happen."
Hasan Ali, Player of the Match - The conditions weren't really ideal for fast bowling but I believe that if I am able to keep my line and lengths properly then I can exploit the little bit of help that is there in the pitch. I am really happy that I could contribute whenever the captain gave me the ball and step up to the occasion as a senior player. I have been working really hard for two months and I feel I am getting back to my best. I want to dedicate my award to my newborn daughter.
Player of the Match: Hasan Ali.
Super Power of the Day: Blessing Muzarabani.
Energetic Batter of the Match: Tim Seifert.
Moment of the Match: Anwar Ali.
Time for the post-match presentations.
RileeRossouw (Quetta GladiatorsCaptain): "I think the conditions were tough. We started well but Karachi were better than us for sure. We lost our way today. Have to forget this game quickly. Proud of the boys fighting hard with the ball. The mood is confident and upbeat. We did not assess the conditions well and thought it was a 200 pitch, but it was a 160 wicket. We failed to read conditions and paid the price for it. We are not just looking to reach the playoffs but also top 2 and go all the way. Great to be back in Pakistan for PSL. The crowds are amazing to say the least."
ShoaibMalik (Karachi Kings): "Yes, definitely pleased with the win. Every game is a must-win game for us. We spoke at the dressing room to take every game as finals. We showed up today very well and happy with the performance. Well, I have been trying not to be predictable and bowling yorkers. I am mixing things up and manipulating things is important. Glad to be doing well for the team and want to do well more and be more consistent. I would love to dominate spin. Yes, I can rotate strike as well. My strength is to go after the bowling and spinners are put to the sword."
17:36 IST and 17:06 Local time- Shoaib Malik finishes off in style as he launches Usman Tariq into the stands! He gets the Karachi Kings over the line as they register and emphatic win by 7 wickets over the Quetta Gladiators who were extremely ordinary on all fronts. Karachi end up with 121/3 in 15.3 overs and this will be a massive boost to their net run rate.
Karachi didn't have the best of the starts as they lost their skipper Shan Masood early on, who edged one of Amir to the keeper. It brought James Vince to the crease who struck a flurry of boundaries to give them the impetus in the powerplay. The pair of Seifert and Vince did well to rotate the strike and pick up the boundaries and brought up the 50 partnership in the process. Akeal Hossein struck to remove Vince and just brought the Gladiators back in the game, before the 10th over.
Shoaib Malik joined Seifert at the crease and after a series of quite overs, the Kiwi batter picked up pace again. He went after Hasnain and the veteran Malik, kept rotating the strike at the other end. Abrar Ahmed managed to dismiss Seifert against the run of play as he fell agonizingly short of his 50 by a single but by that time, a lot of damage had been done already and Karachi were on course for a victory.
The Quetta bowling looked very ordinary as the bowlers could never build any sustained period of pressure against the Karachi Kings to make a match out of this game. The two spinners, Abrar Ahmed and Akeal Hossein did well as they were economical and picked up a wicket each but the rest of the bowlers were lack luster and didn't look like troubling the batters at all.
15.3 U Tariq to S Malik
6 SIX! Malik finishes things off in style! Tosses it up with a bit of air, Malik comes down the track and lofts it down the ground over long-on. The ball sails over the ropes for the maximum and ends the game here. Karachi Kings gets a much-needed win to keep their playoffs hopes alive.
15.2 U Tariq to Niazi
1 Fuller length around off, Niazi clips it away to the midwicket region for a single.
15.1 U Tariq to S Malik
1 Good length on the pads, Malik tucks it away to the midwicket region for a single.
OVER 15
Karachi Kings
113/3
Irfan Khan Niazi
3(5)
Shoaib Malik
20(18)
Akeal Hosein
1-24(4.0)
14.6 A Hosein to Niazi
0 Short and wide, Niazi cuts it away to the point fielder to end the over.
14.5 A Hosein to S Malik
1 Short and wide outside off, Malik cuts it away to deep point for a single. Good effort from the fielder in the deep.
14.4 A Hosein to Niazi
1 Good length on the pads, Niazi tucks it away to square leg for a single.