Hassan Ali takes four as Karachi down Quetta by seven wickets in PSL contest

Karachi Kings’ Hasan Ali, center, celebrates after taking the wicket during the Pakistan Super League T20 cricket match between Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators, in Rawalpindi on March 6, 2024. (AP)

• Kings’ bowler Hassan Ali returns figures of 4/15 to restrict Gladiators’ batters
• Batter Tim Seifert scores 49, James Vince 29 to ensure a Gladiators’ win

ISLAMABAD: Karachi Kings thumped an in-form Quetta Gladiators squad by seven wickets at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, courtesy of fast bowler Hassan Ali who took four wickets to keep the Kings at bay.
Batting first, the Gladiators failed to register an impressive total at the scoreboard. The second-placed squad were bowled out for 118 runs in 19.1 overs, with Ali taking the key wickets of Saud Shakeel, Khawaja Nafay, Akeel Hosein and Muhammad Hasnain to return figures of 4/15.
Blessing Muzarabani and spinner Zahid Mahmood impressed with figures of 2/27 and 2/25 respectively.
“Started the Rawalpindi leg with an emphatic victory,” the Kings wrote on social media platform X. “Truly an exceptional team effort.”
Kings’ captain Shan Masood continued his disappointing run in the tournament, scoring only seven runs before he was dismissed by Mohammad Amir. However, a 50-run partnership between Tim Seifert (49) and James Vince (29) ensured the match remained within the Kings’ grasp.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik held his nerves to score 27 from 20 balls while Irfan Khan made four runs from six balls as the Kings completed their win over the Gladiators.
The Kings have three wins from seven matches so far while the Gladiators, who occupy the number two spot on the PSL points table, have four wins from seven matches.
The Multan Sultans are the only team that have qualified for the PSL playoffs.