Sports Bulletin

Karachi (Sports News): The HBL Pakistan Super League 11 has seen a total of 26 matches till 17 April with Peshawar Zalmi, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators and Hyderabad Kingsmen having played seven matches each. Multan Sultans, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars and Rawalpindiz have so far played six matches each. Out of the remaining 14 league matches, five are set to be played at Gaddafi Stadium with Quetta, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar set to be in action there. At the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, the remaining nine league matches will be played till the 26 April double-header. The Qualifier between the top two teams will be played on 28 April at the National Bank Stadium. The third and fourth-placed teams will then lock horns in Eliminator 1 on 29 April in Lahore. The losing team of the Qualifier and winner of the Eliminator 1 will be pitted against each other on 1 May in Eliminator 2 in Lahore as well to decide the second finalist. The final of the HBL PSL 11 between the winners of the Qualifier and Eliminator 2 will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday, 3 May. Following is the breakdown of how all the teams fare before the playoffs and final: 8. Rawalpindiz: The newcomers to the HBL PSL have lost all their six matches and are out of the playoffs race. For them the remaining four matches are a great opportunity to finish the season on a high. For three of the four oppositions those matches could carry a lot of importance with respect to qualification so the Rawalpindiz can play spoilsport if they win some. Upcoming fixtures: v LQ on 18 April, v MS on 21 April, v IU on 23 April, v HK 26 April Top run scorer so far: Sam Billings – 188 runs Top wicket-taker so far: Mohammad Amir – 8 wickets 7. Lahore Qalandars: The defending champions have beaten Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans so far with the latter being a 13-over rain-hit affair. Three of their four losses have come in Karachi, where they have been bowled out for 100 in 18.3 overs, 97 in 17 overs and 134 in 19.5 overs. At the same turf, they now face the prospect of a must-win match today against Rawalpindiz before flying out to face Quetta, Karachi and Peshawar in Lahore. Winning all four games promises a total of 12 points, which will certainly ensure a fourth place at least. Losing even one of the games will almost force them out albeit a tie of 10 points with any of the teams enters into a net run rate battle and theirs is currently -1.020.  Upcoming fixtures: v RP on 18 April, v QG on 21 April, v KK on 23 April, v PZ on 25 April Top run scorer so far: Haseebullah – 123 runs Top wicket-taker so far: Shaheen Shah Afridi – 11 wickets 6. Karachi Kings: The 2020 champions have blown hot and cold in their six matches. They beat Quetta, Lahore and Rawalpindiz to open their campaign with confidence in Lahore, but then lost to Peshawar, Hyderabad and Islamabad in Karachi. They were also without captain David Warner in the last two games who sat out with back pain.In ascending order on the table, Karachi Kings (-1.501 NRR), Hyderabad Kingsmen (-0.470 NRR) and Quetta Gladiators (+0.483) are three teams tied on six points but separated by net run rate. Karachi can gain a maximum of 14 points but for that they will have to beat Multan, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta. In that case, Karachi will upend Lahore and Quetta’s prospects and automatically be above Kingsmen.Upcoming fixtures: v MS on 19 April, v PZ on 22 April, v LQ on 23 April, v QG on 25 April Top run scorer so far: Azam Khan – 187 runs Top wicket-taker so far: Hasan Ali – 10 wickets 5. Hyderabad Kingsmen: The Hyderabad Kingsmen have made a remarkable turnaround in their campaign so far winning three matches back-to-back and jumping to fourth for once after losing their first four games. Glenn Maxwell’s addition has brought balance to the side and coincided with a shift in results, while Hassan Khan, Marnus Labuschagne and Hunain Shah have earned player of the match awards in the three wins so far. They now face the steep challenge of beating second and third placed Islamabad United and Multan Sultans, while they will be up against Rawalpindiz in their last league match. Wins in these three matches will give them a maximum of 12 points, which could still turn out to be precarious if they don’t maintain a better net run rate.Upcoming fixtures: v MS on 22 April, v IU on 24 April, v RP on 26 April (afternoon game) Top run scorer so far: Marnus Labuschagne – 203 runs Top wicket-taker so far: Mohammad Ali – 9 wickets 4. Quetta Gladiators: The Saud Shakeel-led outfit enjoy the fourth place currently after net run rate boosting 40-run win over Kingsmen and a 61-run win over Rawalpindiz. On Friday night, they put on complete all-round performance, dismantling the defending champions with pace, spin and a century stand.  The contest against red-hot Peshawar will determine if the last year’s losing finalists can stand the pressures of the business end of the tournament. Whether they get over the line or not in that game, they will have a chance to spoil Lahore and Karachi’s prospects of going ahead by winning those games. If they manage to win all three, it will put them in good stead for cementing the fourth position.Upcoming fixtures: v PZ on 19 April, v LQ on 21 April (afternoon game), v KK on 25 April (afternoon game)Top run scorer so far: Hasan Nawaz - 283 runs Top wicket-taker (s) so far: Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed and Alzarri Joseph (7 wickets each)3. Multan Sultans: Multan Sultans have lost to Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi so far while having beaten Islamabad, Hyderabad, Quetta and Rawalpindiz. Their only game in Karachi so far yielded a 24-run defeat against Peshawar, where they lost their top five to Sufyan Moqim and Iftikhar Ahmed. Their next three games are in a space of four days before they face Islamabad in the last game on 26 April.They have the chance to lay to rest Karachi Kings’ chances, hand Rawalpindiz second head-to-head loss and spoil Hyderabad’s campaign as well. If they win all these games then they will be in a strong position in terms of points before their last game against a strong United outfit.Defeats in the first two of the four remaining matches could open competition for playoffs slots and make the table more interesting.  Upcoming fixtures: v KK on 19 April (afternoon game), v RP on 21 April, v HK on 22 April, v IU on 26 AprilTop run scorer so far: Sahibzada Farhan – 249 runs Top wicket-taker (s) so far: Mohammad Nawaz and Peter Siddle (6 wickets each)2. Islamabad United: Second-placed Islamabad United have won all their four matches while chasing. They lost their opening game against Multan Sultans and on 12 April they faced a setback against Hyderabad Kingsmen. They beat Karachi Kings to come back to winning ways on 16 April. Shadab’s team will be eager to enter their nine points so far to double figure mark with a win over Rawalpindiz in the Twin-cities Derby on 23 April. Islamabad United will have to surmount the Hyderabad and Multan challenge in their remaining two games. Two losses in the three last games can also put them in danger of falling off the cliff. Upcoming fixtures: v RP on 23 April (afternoon game), v HK on 24 April, v MS on 26 AprilTop run scorer so far: Sameer Minhas – 265 runs Top wicket-taker so far: Shadab Khan – 9 wickets 1. Peshawar Zalmi The only unbeaten team in the HBL PSL 11 was confirmed to have qualified for the playoffs after Lahore Qalandars lost to Quetta Gladiators on Friday night. Zalmi have been clinical in their six completed matches with only Hyderabad Kingsmen threatening to beat them in a last-ball thriller on 8 April. In the next game, Zalmi flexed their muscle with the largest ever winning margin in HBL PSL’s history – 159 – against Karachi Kings. Zalmi have 13 points to their name and will face Quetta, Karachi and Lahore in their last three matches. All three oppositions are fighting for a fourth-place finish and can prove their worth by beating the title contenders Zalmi. Meanwhile, their potent weapon Nahid Rana, who picked up 7-76 in his 14 overs across four matches is no longer available. Sufyan Moqim, though, is in elite bowling form and has become the first Pakistan bowler to take three or more wickets in five consecutive T20s. Upcoming fixtures: v QG on 19 April, v KK on 22 April (Afternoon game), v LQ on 25 April. Top run scorer (s) so far: Kusal Mendis (330 runs) and (Babar Azam (301 runs) Top wicket-taker so far: Sufyan Moqim (16 wickets) 

Karachi (Sports News): Quetta Gladiators jumped from sixth to fourth on the points table as they secured a crucial six-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars to bounce back from their eight-wicket loss to Peshawar Zalmi here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Friday night.After Usman Tariq took 3-18 and Jahandad Khan picked up as many wickets for 35 runs, Quetta restricted Qalandars to 134 all out. In turn, a century partnership from Rilee Rossouw, who scored his second half-century in HBL PSL 11, and Hasan Nawaz, who missed his fifty by one run, sealed the game for Gladiators.Lahore Qalandars have now incurred a nine-wicket, 76-run and a six-wicket loss in Karachi and find themselves at seventh with only four points to their name.Quetta displaced Hyderabad Kingsmen at the fourth spot based on better net run rate pushing them a spot below. Karachi Kings have also six points but are placed sixth. Meanwhile, table toppers Peshawar Zalmi have now qualified for the playoffs with three game still to go and 13 points in the bag.Qalandars, who are set to take the field again on Saturday against Rawalpindiz, opted to bat first and were blown away by Gladiators pacers Alzarri Joseph, Jahandad and Saqib Khan with just 42 runs on the board for the loss of four wickets in 6.3 overs.Jahandad castled Mohammad Naeem early, while Joseph accounted for aggressive Fakhar Zaman (20, 11b, 4x4s) and incoming no.4 batter Charith Asalanka. Saqib trapped Mohammad Farooq leg-before to claim his maiden HBL PSL wicket.Player of the match Usman Tariq then jolted Qalandars who were trying to recover with sluggish 18-run fifth-wicket stand between Abdullah Shafique (17, 22b, 1x4) and Haseebullah (33, 37b, 4x4s) with two wickets in 11th over. He got Abdullah stumped and Shaheen Shah Afridi leg-before for a two-ball duck.Sikandar (15, 17b, 1x4) became Usman’s third wicket as he was castled with Qalandars languishing at 84-7 in 16.1 overs. That the Qalandars were able to post a healthy total was largely due to Usama Mir playing a blinder seven-ball 22 cameo at no.10. He struck three sixes and a four overall and took 24 runs off the penultimate over with Haseebullah.Jahandad picked up two wickets on the penultimate and second-last ball of the 20th over after Usama had hit him for a six and a four. Daniel Sams remained unbeaten on 12 off eight balls hitting two fours as Qalandars were dismissed for 134.In turn, Shaheen removed Shamyl Hussain for a three-ball duck, picking up a wicket in the opening over for the 25th time in HBL PSL. In the third over, Saud Shakeel was run out by Asalanka as Qalandars sensed an opportunity.Rossouw and Nawaz then put the Qalandars bowlers on back foot for the next 69 balls putting on 104 runs. Rossouw finished with 60 off 49 balls hitting five fours and two sixes, while Hasan fell to Sikandar for 49 off 32 balls after hitting six delightful fours and two sixes.Haris Rauf’s dismissal of Dinesh Chandimal, who replaced the ill Tom Curran in this game, did not affect Gladiators as they romped home with 22 balls to spare.Scores in brief:Lahore Qalandars 134 all out, 19.5 overs (Haseebullah 33, Usama Mir 22, Fakhar Zaman 20; Usman Tariq 3-18, Jahandad Khan 3-35, Alzarri Joseph 2-41)Quetta Gladiators 138-4, 16.2 overs (Rilee Rossouw 60 not out, Hasan Nawaz 49)Player of the Match – Usman Tariq (Quetta Gladiators)Saturday’s fixture: Lahore Qalandars v Rawalpindiz at National Bank Stadium, Karachi; 7pm PKT 

Karachi (Sports News): Islamabad United continued their dominant head-to-head record against Karachi Kings with an 11th consecutive triumph since February 2021 with a latest eight-wicket thumping in the second match of the Pink Ribbon Day Double-header here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Thursday.Karachi Kings have only managed six wins ever over Islamabad United with four of them coming in the first three seasons and two in 2020.The Thursday’s double-header marked the Pink Ribbon Day in the HBL PSL 11 as the players and officials came together to raise awareness for breast cancer. The official hashtag of the event #GoPink became the no.1 global trend on X after the cricket fraternity shared their thoughts regarding the Pink Day.Opening duo Sameer Minhas and Devon Conway made light work of the 151-run target with a 93-run opening stand as United cruised home with 24 balls to spare. Both registered half-centuries as Sameer was named player of the match for his 36-ball 58 with the help of 10 fours and two outstanding fielding efforts.Conway brought up his second half-century of the tournament and remained unbeaten on 53 off 36 balls striking six fours and one six. Sameer departed at the halfway mark after completing his second fifty and collected the second player of the match award for it.Skipper Shadab (31 not out, 16b, 1x4, 2x6s) and Conway shared a 40-run unbeaten stand to see their team home. United jumped to the second spot on the points table with four wins and nine points to their name. Karachi Kings are placed fifth with only three wins, which came in Lahore leg, while they have lost three on the trot in Karachi.For the Kings, Hasan Ali removed Mohammad Faiq for an eight-ball five, while Moeen accounted for Sameer as Saad Baig effected the stumping.Earlier, for the second straight game in the day a team won the toss and elected to bowl first. Karachi Kings fielded Jason Roy as their debutant in place of Muhammad Waseem, while Moeen continued to stand-in for David Warner, who is expected to recover for the next game.No.3 batter Reeza Hendricks’ unbeaten half-century kept the Kings innings from faltering away as they collected only seven runs from the opening two overs losing Saad Baig to Richard Gleeson.Roy (39, 27b, 3x4s, 2x6s) and Hendricks built a 62-run second-wicket stand and threatened to lay the foundation for a healthy total but skipper Shadab provided the vital breakthrough. He snapped Roy and Salman Ali Agha across 9th and 11th overs to leave Kings 77-3 in 10.2 overs.Hendricks, whose 51 not out came off 44 balls, hit only four fours in his outing. He stitched a 54-run stand off 45 balls as United kept the scoring rate in check.Azam fell to Gleeson with Sameer taking brilliant diving catch in the off-side outfield, while in the next over Sameer and Chapman executed an outstanding relay catch at the cow corner to remove Khushdil Shah for just two.Moeen only managed a six in his five-ball eight before falling on the penultimate ball of the innings to Mohammad Hasnain. Gleeson and Shadab accounted for two wickets each giving away 22 and 28 runs respectively in their four overs each. Faheem had one wicket to his name.Scores in brief:Karachi Kings 150-6, 20 overs (Reeza Hendricks 51 not out, Jason Roy 39, Azam Khan 34; Richard Gleeson 2-22, Shadab Khan 2-28)Islamabad United 153-2, 16 overs (Sameer Minhas 58, Devon Conway 53 not out, Shadab Khan 31 not out)Player of the Match – Sameer Minhas (Islamabad United)Friday’s fixture: Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators at National Bank Stadium, Karachi; 7pm PKT

Karachi (Sports News): Skipper Babar Azam anchored a clinical chase with 71 not out as Peshawar Zalmi stayed unbeaten in HBL Pakistan Super League 11 with an eight-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators in Match 23 at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.The win extended Peshawar’s lead at the top of the table with 13 points in seven games and took them within touching distance to the play-offs.Babar's measured knock off 51 balls laced with 10 boundaries guided Peshawar to 156 for two in 18.3 overs in pursuit of 155 set by the Quetta. This was also Babar’s 100th T20 half-century. Mohammad Haris provided the early impetus with 35 from 28 balls, while Aaron Hardie remained unbeaten on 18 to seal a comfortable victory with nine deliveries to spare.Earlier, HBL PSL debutant Mohammad Basit (4-0-36-3) and Sufyan Moqim (4-0-25-3) combined to skittle Quetta for 154 in 20 overs, with Hasan Nawaz top-scored for the Quetta with 37 from 35 balls hitting four fours in a stop-start innings that never quite found rhythm against Peshawar's disciplined attack.While chasing, Haris and Babar set off in a hurry with a 75-run opening stand inside the first nine overs. Haris dominated the early exchanges, taking the Quetta's new-ball pair for five fours and a six in his 28-ball stay before falling in the ninth over caught by Shamyl Hussain off the captain Saud Shakeel for 35.Babar then rebuilt with Kusal Mendis as the pair shared a 49-run second-wicket stand. The captain reached his half-century off 37 balls with seven boundaries and continued to find the rope at regular intervals as Peshawar inched closer to the target.Mendis fell for 21 from 19 balls in the 16th over caught by Usman Tariq off Alzarri Joseph but Hardie joined his captain to see the chase through with a composed cameo of 18 not out from 14 balls.Alzarri Joseph (4-0-32-1) and Saud Shakeel (3-0-23-1) were the only Quetta bowlers to take wickets on a tough evening for the Quetta attack.Earlier, having been put in to bat, Quetta lost Ahsan Ali for four in the very first over caught off Iftikhar Ahmed (4-0-20-1). Captain Saud Shakeel briefly steadied the innings with 16 from 13 balls before being run out by Farhan Yousaf via Iftikhar Ahmed in the fifth over.Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz then attempted to rebuild with a 23-run third-wicket stand before Sufyan Moqim struck in the eighth over, bowling Rossouw for 26. The left hander became the first foreign and fourth player overall to feature in 100 HBL PSL games.Mohammad Basit then accounted for Shamyl Hussain caught by Aaron Hardie for 12 in the 12th over to leave Quetta 86 for four.Khawaja Mohammad Nafay played a lone hand with 20 from 13 balls including a six but Sufyan trapped him leg-before-wicket in the 16th over with the score on 120 for six. Hasan, who had anchored the innings, fell to Basit for 37 in the 15th over before Tom Curran provided a late flourish with 15 from 10 balls.Quetta's lower order folded quickly with Basit returning to remove Curran and Joseph in the 19th over before Usman Tariq was run out off the final delivery to bring the innings to a close at 154 all out.Sufyan’s three-wicket haul brought him the laurel of becoming the first Pakistan bowler to take three or more wickets in five consecutive T20s. Apart from Basit’s three-for, Iftikhar Ahmed (4-0-20-1) continued his fine form with the ball.Scores in brief:Quetta Gladiators 154 all out, 20 overs (Hasan Nawaz 37, Rilee Rossouw 26, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay 20; Sufyan Moqim 3-25, Mohammad Basit 3-36)Peshawar Zalmi 156-2, 18.3 overs (Babar Azam 71 not out, Mohammad Haris 35, Kusal Mendis 21)

Lahore (PR): Pindiz provides an update on Jalat Khan, who experienced a side strain during Pindiz vs Islamabad United encounter at Gaddafi Stadium on 4th April.Following medical assessment, the injury has been classified as low grade. He is currently under observation, and a fitness test later this week will determine his availability for the remaining matches.

Karachi (Sports News): Peshawar Zalmi extended their unbeaten run in HBL Pakistan Super League 11 with a 24-run win over Multan Sultans in Match 22 at the National Bank Stadium on Monday, maintaining their position at the top of the standings with 11 points from six matches.Multan Sultans were restricted to 172-8 in 20 overs in reply to Peshawar Zalmi’s 196-6 in 20 overs. Sufyan Moqim (4-0-30-3) and Iftikhar Ahmed (4-0-32-2) shared the wickets of Sultans’ top five batters to leave them in a puzzle.After Sultans opted to bowl, Zalmi’s Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with 68 from 40 balls hitting six fours and three sixes, while Mohammad Haris provided a blistering start with 38 from 17 deliveries as Peshawar posted 196 for six.Peshawar tore into the Multan attack through Haris who smashed three sixes and four boundaries at the top of the order. The opening batter took Mohammad Nawaz for 21 in the third over before nicking one to Josh Philippe behind the stumps.Babar Azam and Mendis then rebuilt with a measured 24-run stand before the captain fell for 18 in the eighth over, caught by Muhammad Shahzad off Nawaz as he attempted to break the shackles with the scoreboard reading 72 for two.Mendis continued to tick the scoreboard over alongside Farhan Yousaf who struck 30 from 22 deliveries including three sixes. The pair added 63 for the third wicket before Farhan hoicked one straight to Shan Masood at deep midwicket off Mohammad Wasim Jnr in the 15th over.Mendis brought up his half-century off 29 deliveries and continued to torment Multan’s attack before falling for 68 in the 18th over caught at long-on. He finished the outing with 309 runs to his name in the tournament.Mohammad Ismail (3-0-22-2) had struck four balls earlier to remove Michael Bracewell (14, 8b, 1x4, 1x6). Iftikhar then provided the late impetus with a 10 off five including a four and a six off Wasim Jnr in the 19th over before falling to Siddle (4-0-29-2) in the 20th, as Peshawar finished on 196 for six.In reply, Multan got off to a flying start through Sahibzada Farhan (17, 10b, 3x4s) and Steve Smith who added 30 for the opening wicket before Iftikhar struck in the third over to dismiss Farhan.Smith and Philippe then counter-attacked in style with Philippe racing to 32 from just 17 balls including six fours as the pair took Multan past 80 inside nine overs.The game swung decisively in the 10th over when Sufyan struck twice. Smith was the first to fall for 31 from 29 balls including three boundaries attempting a slog sweep. Two balls later, Philippe was trapped leg-before wicket for 32 playing across the line.Multan slipped from 85 for one to 86 for three and never quite recovered the required momentum.Ashton Turner (20, 13b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Shan added 37 for the fourth wicket before Sufyan struck again in the 14th over, bowling Turner for 20 through a sharply turning delivery that crashed into the leg stump.Shan fought hard with a 19-ball 35 including five fours but holed out to Samad off Iftikhar in the 16th over, leaving Multan needing 51 from 30 deliveries.Nahid then closed the door at the death, dismissing Arafat Minhas (4) caught by Babar Azam in the 17th over and completing his quota by having Mohammad Wasim caught behind for four in the two-run 19th over as Mendis took a stunning catch.Aamir Jamal accounted for Mohammad Nawaz (16, 16b, 1x4) in the final over as Multan finished on 172 for eight, 24 runs short of the target.Sufiyan, the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets, was named Player of the Match for his match-turning spell of three for 30.Scores in brief:Peshawar Zalmi 196-6, 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 68, Mohammad Haris 38, Farhan Yousaf 30; Mohammad Ismail 2-22, Peter Siddle 2-29)Multan Sultans 172-8, 20 overs (Shan Masood 35, Josh Phillipe 32, Steve Smith 31, Ashton Turner 20; Sufyan Moqim 3-30, Nahid Rana 2-24, Iftikhar Ahmed 2-32)Player of the Match: Sufyan Moqim (Peshawar Zalmi)Wednesday’s fixture: Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators at National Bank Stadium, Karachi; 7pm PKT

 Karachi (Sports News): Hyderabad Kingsmen hunted down the 189-run target set by the Karachi Kings in 19.1 overs to claim the first ever duel of the Sindh Derby and their first HBL Pakistan Super League triumph as well in fifth try here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Saturday night.Peshawar Zalmi are the only unbeaten team in the tournament and sit atop the points table with nine points. Hyderabad Kingsmen will now face the third-placed Islamabad United on Sunday evening.Hassan Khan (33 not out, 16b, 2x4s, 2x6s) and Muhammad Irfan Khan (29 not out, 20b, 2x4s, 1x6) blitzed an unbeaten 24-ball 50-run stand for the seventh wicket to seal the win after Karachi Kings had affected a collapse worth five for 43 in in the middle overs to reduce Kingsmen to 139-6 in 15.1 overs.Irfan thumped Hasan Ali for a six down the ground to lay the foundation for the match-winning stand in the 16th over after the former had removed Kusal Perera for a 14-ball 17.The duo then took turns against Ihsanullah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi and Hasan Ali in the subsequent overs striking another three fours and two sixes combined to hand Karachi Kings their second consecutive loss in the tournament.Earlier, Maaz Sadaqat (37, 29b, 4x4s, 2x6s) and skipper Marnus Labuschagne provided their side with a blazing 36-run opening stand in just 16 balls before the latter fell to Khushdil Shah. Labuschagne struck three fours and two sixes in a 10-ball 26.Usman Khan (27, 13b, 3x4s, 2x6s) then entered the fray and stitched a brisk 60-run stand off 32 balls with Maaz as Kingsmen gathered 76 runs off the powerplay and then 11 off Adam Zampa’s first over. With 102 required off 78 balls, the rot set in with Abbas Afridi removing Usman on the last ball of the eighth over.Zampa accounted for Maaz, Salman Ali Agha castled Saim Ayub and Abbas Afridi got rid of the HBL PSL debutant Glenn Maxwell in a space of 19 balls to send alarm bells to Kingsmen ranks. Perera and Irfan rebuilt with a 21-ball 27-run stand before the former holed out to Muhammad Waseem at the deep midwicket.Abbas Afridi picked up two wickets, while Salman, Khushdil, Hasan and Zampa picked up one wicket each.At the start, Kingsmen opted to bowl and conceded 188-8 in 20 overs as n0.4 batter Saad Baig notched his maiden HBL PSL fifty before becoming the first-ever batter to be tactically retired out in the league and Moeen Ali chipped in with a 16-ball 44 comprising one fours and five sixes.Saad walked in the sixth over after Muhammad Waseem (25, 19b, 4x4s) and Salman Ali Agha (24, 16b, 2x4s, 2x6s) were split following a 45-run stand by Hunain Shah. Mohammad Ali had removed Reeza Hendricks fourth ball into the innings to give the Kings a head start.Azam Khan, who struck two sixes and one four in his 19-ball 26, put on a 61-run fourth-wicket partnership to keep the innings intact after Waseem’s departure. Moeen’s blazing 44 pushed Kings towards a healthy total after he walked in at 117-4 in 14.3 overs.Moeen shifted the gears by hitting Maxwell for two consecutive sixes in the 16th over before launching Saim for three sixes and a four across five balls in a 22-run 17th over.At this point Moeen threatened to take over the fastest half-century record before Hunain delivered a boundary-less 18th over and Mohammad Ali dismissed him in the 19th. Saad was called back in the penultimate over after he had scored 53 off 37 balls hitting six fours.Hunain closed the innings with brilliant four-run over and bagged the figures of three for 19 in his four. Ali picked up two for 35, while Labuschagne accounted for Azam.Scores in brief:Karachi Kings 188-8, 20 overs (Saad Baig 53 retired out, Moeen Ali 44, Azam Khan 26, Mohammad Waseem 25, Salman Ali Agha 24; Hunain Shah 3-19, Mohammad Ali 2-35)Hyderabad Kingsmen 189-6, 19.1 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 37, Hassan Khan 33 not out, Muhammad Irfan Khan 27 not out, Usman Khan 27, Marnus Labuschagne 26; Mohammad Abbas Afridi 2-30)Player of the Match – Hassan Khan (Hyderabad Kingsmen)Sunday’s fixture: Hyderabad Kingsmen v Islamabad United at National Bank Stadium, Karachi; 7.30pm PKT

 Karachi (Sports News): Peshawar Zalmi continued their unbeaten run in HBL Pakistan Super League 11 with a commanding 76-run win over defending champions Lahore Qalandars in Match 19 at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday.Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam once again laid the platform with a 109-run second-wicket stand before a clinical bowling effort led by Sufyan Moqim and Michael Bracewell skittled Lahore for 97 in 17 overs. The result lifted Peshawar to nine points from five matches at the top of the standings, while Lahore stayed in the bottom half.Put in to bat, Peshawar were rocked early when Mohammad Haris fell for 18 off 10 balls in the third over. Babar and Mendis then took charge with a measured rebuild.Mendis brought up first HBL PSL half-century off 35 deliveries backing up his hundred from the previous game and continued to anchor the innings while Babar rotated the strike.The captain reached 43 from 40 balls — a knock that took him past 4,000 career runs in HBL PSL — before falling to Usama Mir in the 16th over, caught by Abdullah Shafique.Mendis followed shortly after, top-scoring with 74 from 48 balls laced with five fours and four sixes, edging Shaheen to Abdullah.Bracewell struck a quickfire 21 from 10 deliveries with a four and two sixes before falling to Mustafizur Rahman (4-0-30-2), while Iftikhar Ahmed remained unbeaten on seven to guide Peshawar to 173 for seven.Shaheen (4-0-22-3) was the pick of the Lahore bowlers, while Ubaid Shah (3-0-29-1) and Usama Mir (4-0-39-1) shared two wickets.In reply, Lahore's chase never gained traction. Shoriful Islam (4-0-21-3) struck in the second over to remove Mohammad Naeem for one, before Nahid Rana (3-0-15-2) sent back Abdullah (21, 15b, 5x4s) in the sixth.Bracewell then accounted for Fakhar Zaman (21, 19b, x4s), who was playing his 100th HBL PSL match to become only the third player to reach the milestone, caught by Babar at long-on, to leave the Qalandars 45 for three.The off-spinner returned to dismiss Haseebullah for three in the ninth over while Sufyan Moqim (4-0-21-3) struck in the very next over to bowl Asif Ali without scoring as the scoreboard read 56 for five.Bracewell (4-0-18-3) then delivered the decisive blow, removing the dangerous Sikandar Raza (14, 13b, 2x4s) in the 11th over caught to leave Lahore reeling at 64 for six.Sufyan bowled Shaheen for five in the 12th over before Nahid Rana had Usama Mir caught behind by Mendis in the 13th. Sufyan then completed his three-wicket haul by dismissing Ubaid Shah stumped by Mendis in the next over to reduce Lahore to 75 for nine.A late 22-run partnership between Dunith Wellalage (20, 24b, 3x4s) and Mustafizur offered brief resistance before Aamir Jamal ended the innings in the 17th over, dismissing the latter.Scores in brief:Peshawar Zalmi 173-7, 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 74, Babar Azam 43, Michael Bracewell 21; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-22, Mustafizur Rahman 2-30)Lahore Qalandars 97 all out, 17 overs (Abdullah Shafique 21, Fakhar Zaman 21, Dunith Wellalage 20; Michael Bracewell 3-18, Sufyan Moqim 3-21, Nahid Rana 2-15)Player of the Match: Kusal Mendis (Peshawar Zalmi)

Karachi Sports News): :Quetta Gladiators romped to a 61-run win over Rawalpindiz after an emphatic performance with both bat and ball in the 18th match of the HBL Pakistan Super League here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Friday night.Rawalpindiz, who lost their fifth consecutive game in the tournament, were restricted to 121 in 17.3 overs in pursuit of a 183-run target courtesy two wickets each from Saud Shakeel, Jahandad Khan and Usman Tariq.Earlier, Gladiators were helped to a healthy total with a steady half-century from player of the match Rilee Rossouw and a fiery knock of 39 from Hasan Nawaz. Following his unbeaten six-ball 21 not out on the back of two fours and as many sixes, Jahandad struck on the first ball of the innings removing Rawalpindiz skipper Mohammad Rizwan to help Quetta get off to the best possible start in the defence of the target.Rawalpindiz’ stop-start innings involved three wickets inside the powerplay before they lost seven for 44 after being 72-3 at the halfway mark. Saad Masood’s late hitting in aa 19-ball 31-run knock comprising one four and three sixes took them across the 100-run mark.Usman Khawaja returned to the HBL PSL after 2021 and was run out for seven, while Yasir Khan fell to Abrar Ahmed for a 14-ball 21 after hitting debutant Khalil Ahmed for a six and two fours in the second over.Daryl Mitchell (30, 32b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Abdullah Fazal (20, 19b, 1x4, 1x6) put on 32 runs for the fourth wicket before Usman broke the stand in the 11th over. Left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti, who was playing his second HBL PSL game in nine years, accounted for Sam Billings with Rawalpindiz 82-5 in 11.5 overs.Saud’s two wickets came in the only over he bowled and dismissed Mitchell and Asif Afridi, Usman bagged his second removing Mubasir before Rawalpindiz capitulation was sealed with two more wickets in the 18th over.Gladiators’ innings was headlined by the second-wicket 87-run stand between Rossouw (53, 42b, 6x4s, 1x6) and Saud (42, 39b, 3x4s). Debutant Ben Sears castled Sam Harper to give Rawalpindiz their first wicket of the day in the fourth over. He later returned to break the partnership dismissing Saud.Hasan Nawaz’ 16-ball 39 included five sixes only and provided them impetus as Rawalpindiz started striking regularly. Jahandad walked in at 156-5 in 18.2 overs and helped his team end the innings on a high taking 14 runs off the last over.Sears ended with three for 41 in his four overs, while Mohammad Amir picked up two wickets. Mubasir dismissed Rossouw for his only wicket.

 Karachi (Sports News): Peshawar Zalmi crushed Karachi Kings by a record 159 runs in Match 17 of HBL Pakistan Super League 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday night, riding on Kusal Mendis' record-breaking century and a combined bowling effort to skittle Karachi for 87 in 16.1 overs.The result lifted Peshawar Zalmi to second in the standings with seven points from four matches and a net run-rate of 2.87, while Karachi Kings slipped to fourth.Mendis became the first Sri Lankan to register a century in HBL PSL - a sparkling 109 off 52 balls including 14 fours and four sixes and also shared a 191-run second-wicket stand with captain Babar Azam — the highest partnership for any wicket in HBL PSL.The duo surpassed the previous mark of 176 set by Babar and Sharjeel Khan for Karachi Kings against Islamabad United in 2021.Babar finished unbeaten on 87 from 51 deliveries with 10 fours and two sixes, while Abdul Samad provided the late fireworks with an unbeaten 40 from just 12 balls including three fours and four sixes to lift Peshawar to a daunting 246 for three – their highest-ever total in HBL PSL, highest-ever team total at the National Bank Stadium and the sixth-highest in the league.In reply, Karachi never recovered from a disastrous start. Iftikhar Ahmed (2.1-0-9-3), the hero of Peshawar's last-ball thriller against Hyderabad Kingsmen last night, struck on the third ball of the chase to dismiss Muhammad Waseem for naught. Shoriful Islam (3-1-23-1) removed David Warner for zero in the very next over and Iftikhar struck again in the third over to trap Salman Ali Agha leg-before-wicket.At eight for three, the chase was already in tatters and Karachi’s middle order offered little resistance. Saad Baig flashed three boundaries in his 14 from 11 balls before falling to a Nahid Rana bouncer in the seventh over while Moeen Ali made nine from eight before holing out to Abdul Samad off Sufyan Moqim in the ninth.Azam Khan offered the only meaningful resistance with 25 from 27 balls including a six off Shoriful but he too was bowled by Sufyan in the 11th over with Karachi reeling at 65 for five.Sufyan (4-0-18-3) and Nahid (4-1-7-3) then ran through the lower order with Khushdil Shah (10, 14b, 1x4) edging Nahid behind for 10 and Mohammad Abbas Afridi (9) caught at long-on off Sufyan (4-0-18-3).Adam Zampa was bowled by Rana for a duck in the double-wicket maiden 14th over and the rout was completed in the 17th over when Iftikhar had Mohammad Hamza Sohail stumped by Mendis.Earlier in the day, Karachi captain David Warner had won the toss and elected to bowl first.Mendis, however, took apart Mir Hamza in the second over with back-to-back sixes to plunder 17 runs.Khushdil (4-0-37-1) had earlier provided the perfect start by removing Mohammad Haris on the second ball of the match for a duck caught by Salman at long-on but Babar joined Mendis in dismantling Karachi’s attack with a 15-run fourth over off Khushdil.Babar also brought up his 12,000 runs in T20 cricket; fastest to achieve the feat (338 innings) surpassing Chris Gayle (345 innings) and the just the second Pakistan batter to achieve the feat.Peshawar reached 66 for one at the end of the powerplay before continuing to accelerate. Mendis brought up his half-century off 25 balls in the eighth over with a clip through deep extra cover and raced to his maiden HBL PSL hundred in the 15th over working Adam Zampa around the corner to bring up the milestone off just 48 deliveries.The record-breaking partnership eventually ended at 191 when Mendis holed out to Haroon Arshad off Abbas in the 17th over for 109. Abbas struck again three balls later dismissing Michael Bracewell (6, 3b, 1x6) caught behind by Azam.Samad walked in and immediately took the attack to Karachi, hammering Abbas for three consecutive sixes in the penultimate over before Mir Hamza was taken to cleaners for 19 in the final over including two more maximums by Samad as the unbeaten 12-ball cameo took Peshawar past 240.Abbas (4-0-55-2) picked up the two of three Peshawar wickets to fall.Scores in brief:Peshawar Zalmi 246-3, 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 109, Babar Azam 87, Abdul Samad 40 not out; Mohammad Abbas Afridi 2-55)Karachi Kings 87 all out, 16.1 overs (Azam Khan 25; Nahid Rana 3-7, Iftikhar Ahmed 3-9; Sufyan Moqim 3-18)Player of the match: Kusal Mendis (Peshawar Zalmi)Friday’s fixture: Quetta Gladiators v Rawalpindiz at National Bank Stadium, Karachi; 7pm PKT