Six-machine Ben Dunk leads Qalandars to win over Kings in PSL encounter

A burst of record 12 sixes by Ben Dunk supported by Lahore Qalandars skipper Sohail Akhtar annihilated the Karachi Kings bowling line during the Sunday evening clash at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Lahore Qalandars won the toss and put Karachi Kings into bat in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 edition.

A 93-run fifth wicket partnership between Alex Hales and Chadwick Walton helped Karachi Kings to post a total of 187-5. Qalandars achieved the target with five balls to spare and eight wickets in hand, thanks to stormy innings of Ben Dunk (99*).

Chasing a big target of 188 runs, Qalandars started steadily and lost early wicket. Muhammad Amir struck in his first over and clean bowled Fakhar Zaman for zero. Veteran Muhammad Hafeez arrived at the crease when Qalandars were 2/1. Qalandars captain Sohail Akhtar and Hafeez added 48 runs for the second wicket partnership. Qalandars were 50/1 after 8.1 overs, when Muhammad Hafeez was dismissed by young left arm spinner Umer Khan. Hafeez made 16 runs.

After the dismissal of Hafeez, in form Australian left handed batsman Ben Dunk joined the skipper Sohail Akhtar at the crease. Qalandars needed an uphill task of 138 runs in 11.4 overs, when Ben Dunk unleashed the attack on Karachi Kings bowlers and smashed a record-breaking innings of the PSL. He broke his own record of most sixes in a PSL game. He hit record 12 sixes and two fours in his unbeaten innings of 99 runs off only 40 balls.

On the other side, skipper Sohail Akhtar played a handy innings of 68 runs including six fours and two sixes and helped his team chasing a big target in front of the home crowd.

Ben Dunk was dropped twice in his record-breaking innings. Karachi Kings bowlers seemed hapless before Ben Dunk, as he smashed them around the park. Karachi Kings bowler Aamer Yamin could only bowl 1.1 overs because of injury which put pressure on captain Imad Wasim. Amir and Umer Khan bagged one wicket each.

Earlier in first innings, the poor form of Sharjeel Khan continues, as he was run out by David Wiese in the third over of the match. The left handed batsman only managed to score five runs. On the other hand, Babar Azam was playing smartly.

Pakistan star batsman Babar Azam and Alex Hales added 60 runs for second wicket partnership when Babar was dismissed by young leg spinner Maaz Khan. Babar made 38 runs off 29 balls.

After the dismissal of Babar Azam, Cameron Delport and Iftikhar Ahmed fell cheaply. Kings were 94/4 after 13.2 overs when Chadwick Walton joined the inform Alex Hales at the crease. Both the foreign players smashed the Lahore Qalandars bowlers brutally and added 93 runs for fifth wicket in just 6.3 overs. Their stormy knocks helped Kings to post 187/5 after 20 overs.

Hales top-scored with unbeaten 80 off 48 balls including six fours and five big sixes. Chadwick Walton smashed 45 runs off 20 balls. He hit two fours and five sixes.

Lahore Qalandars leg spinner Maaz Khan took two wickets for conceding 31 runs.

Teams:

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Dane Vilas (wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk, Samit Patel, Sohail Akhtar (c), David Wiese, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Irshad, Dilbar Hussain, Raja Farzan, Jaahid Ali, Usman Shinwari, Seekkuge Prasanna, Muhammad Faizan, Salman Butt, Chris Lynn

Karachi Kings: Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Alex Hales, Chadwick Walton (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim (c), Chris Jordan, Mitchell McClenaghan, Umer Khan, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Awais Zia, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Rizwan, Cameron Delport, Usama Mir, Ali Khan, Arshad Iqbal