KARACHI: Saad Baig’s half-century and Moeen Ali’s cameo powered Karachi Kings to a formidable total against Hyderabad Kingsmen in the 20th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday.
Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne’s decision to field first backfired as the home side piled up 188/8 in their 20 overs.
The Kings, however, got off to a dismal start to their innings as they lost Reeza Hendricks (two) in the first over with just two runs on the board.
Following the early stutter, Salman Ali Agha (24) joined Muhammad Waseem in the middle, and the duo batted sensibly to add an important 45-run partnership for the second wicket until the former fell victim to Hunain Shah in the final over of the batting powerplay.
Hunain struck again in his next over, trapping Waseem lbw, who walked back after scoring 25 off 19, as the Kings slipped to 59/3 in 7.2 overs.
Following the back-to-back dismissals, youngsters Saad Baig and Azam Khan took the reins of the Kings’ batting charge and added valuable runs in the middle by putting together an anchoring 69-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Kingsmen captain Labuschagne broke the budding stand in his first over by dismissing Azam, who made 26 off 19 deliveries with the help of two sixes and a four.
His dismissal, however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Kings as it paved the way for stand-in captain Moeen Ali to walk out and bat at No.6, and the left-handed batter turned the game on its head with belligerent hitting.
The left-handed batter played a blistering 44-run cameo off just 16 deliveries, smashing five sixes and a four until eventually falling victim to Mohammad Ali in the penultimate over.
Baig, on the other hand, brought up his maiden PSL half-century in the same over and retired out after top-scoring with a 37-ball 53, studded with six fours.
Hunain was the standout bowler for the Kingsmen, taking three wickets for just 19 runs in his four overs, followed by Ali with two, while Labuschagne could claim one.
