PSL: Shehzad is Quetta's hero

Dubai - Karachi Kings handed eight-wicket defeat in Pakistan Super League tie

With Pakistan yet to announce the squad for the World T20, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has provided Ahmed Shehzad a golden chance to convince the selectors of his match-winning skills after his timely knock of 71 runs helped Quetta Gladiators register a eight-wicket victory over Karachi Kings.
Shehzad's career was on the line after a string of poor scores but he put on 92 runs for the first wicket with Luke Wright (47 off 39) which helped Quetta to outplay Karachi by eight wickets.
"It happens with every player and bad patches are part of this game. I have always tried to give my 100 per cent while representing my country.
"You can see what I have achieved in all three formats and I am still very young. My job is to try my best and it is up to the selectors how they rate my performance. Since it is the last tournament for Shahid Afridi, I would like selectors to name the best possible XI for the World T20," Shehzad said during the post-match Press conference.
After two consecutive victories Karachi suffered their first defeat - and a big one. They put on the highest total of the PSL so far (147) but it was not enough to challenge the in-form Quetta batsmen as they coasted home by scoring 153 for 2 in 17.2 overs.
Shoaib Malik while talking to media after the match said: "It is not possible to win all the matches in this format of the game. We did well in two early matches but this did not go in our way.
"In my opinion, we need five specialist bowlers and it will be discussed in the meetings following this loss.
"The credit must be given to Quetta Gladiators for their wonderful performance. Ahmed Shehzad and Luke Wright took the match away from us by putting on 92 for the first wicket."
Earlier, Quetta's captain Sarfaraz Ahmed won the toss and sent Karachi into bat which proved right as Gladiators' Anwar Ali dismissed Nauman Anwar in the first over. Nauman, touted as a big talent, is yet to open his account after playing two matches. Zualiqar Babar bowled the second over which was maiden. It was an eventful over as batsmen nicked the ball and fielder Akbar-ur Rehman in the first slip went for the catch but the ball hit his nose leaving him injured. He had to leave the field with blood oozing from the nose.
After Babar's couple of brilliant overs, first day's hero Mohammed Nawaz came to bowl and struck in his first over by sending Lendl Simmons back to pavilion. He gave away only one run in his first over.
Afghanistan captain Mohammed Nabi was introduced and he was amongst the wickets by getting Vince stumped by Sarfraz.
It was a slow start by T20 standard as Karachi could manage only 57 runs in first 10 overs.
Now Shakibal Hasan and Shoaib Malik were at the crease to increase the tempo of the innings but Shakib was castled by Nabi after scoring only 17 runs.
Ravi Bopara joined Shoaib in the middle and put on 69 runs before getting out after scoring 40 runs. Shoaib (37) followed him soon as he was run out in the final over. Three wickets fell in final over and Karachi were restricted to 147 for 7.
liaqat@khaleejtimes.com

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