Karachi Kings set 125-run target for Multan Sultans in the first match of the seventh edition of the Paki-stan Super League (PSL) 2022 at National Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Karachi Kings’ newly-appointed skipper Babar Azam could not score much and also maintained a low strike rate in the opening match of PSL 7.
The skipper, who ranks at the top of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) T20I rankings, was dis-missed in the 11th over by Khushdil Shah at 23 runs off 29 balls. His strike rate was 79.31.
His opening partner, Sharjeel Khan, on the other hand, was able to score 43 off 31 balls, with the help of three 4s and an equal number of 6s. The fans were left disappointed with the skipper’s early dis-missal and said they did not expect such a perform-ance from him.
The Multan Sultans restricted Karachi Kings to 124/5 as Imran Tahir took some three wickets for the defending champions. The fall of wickets began in the 10th over when Tahir picked up the first and crucial wicket of Sharjeel Khan (43), who was on a roll with his opening partner and skipper Babar Azam.
Later in the 11th over, Khushdil Shah took the wicket of Babar in the next over (23), piling up pressure on the Sultans.
Mohammad Nabi was the third man to go for 10 of 17 balls and the man to dismiss him was Tahir. In the same over, the veteran spinner picked up the wicket of Tom Lammonby (1). Joe Clarke (26) was dismissed by Shahnawaz Dahani in the 18th over.
The Sultans only gave six extras in 20 overs. Defending champions Multan had won the toss and elected to field first against Karachi.
Overall, nine matches have been played be-tween the two sides, with the Kings winning five and the Multan Sultans pocketing victories in two games. One match did not yield any result while one was abandoned.
Earlier, defending champions Multan Sultans won the toss and elected to field first against Kara-chi Kings.—APP
