PSL 2023, QTG vs KRK: Martin Guptill's ton blow Karachi Kings out of water
Martin Guptill scored a century (Source: Twitter/@thePSLt20)
Quetta Gladiators opened their account in the sixth match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 with a six-run victory over Karachi Kings.
Guptill leads one-man show
After opting to bowl first, Karachi Kings had Quetta Gladiators in omnishambles as the former's skipper Imad Wasim hemmed in the latter's top-order with his left-arm spin, taking down Jason Roy, Abdul Bangalzai and Umar Akmal in his spell.
Quetta were in dire straits, tottering at 23/4, however, Gladiator Martin Guptill got his sword out, piercing the Karachi bowlers with it.
The Kiwi first formed a 59-run partnership with Iftikhar Ahmed and then batted like a man possessed. The Gladiators tonked as many as 76 runs in the final five overs of the innings with Guptill's century taking the team's total to 168/7.
Hasnain, Naseem helps Karachi ride out Malik's onslaught
What Guptill was for Quetta, Shoaib Malik was for Karachi. The Kings batted like a fish out of water until Malik gave it back to the visitors in style.
Lying at 76/5 after 11 overs, Karachi had no business chasing the target. However, Malik and Irfan Khan got the innings up and running with their 86-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
The duo brought down the equation to 37 needing off the last three overs. But Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain's quick-witted bowling in the slog overs had the batters on the knife-edge as Karachi Kings eventually ended at 162/5.
Brief scores:
Quetta Gladiators - 168/7 (20)
Martin Guptill 117 (67), Iftikhar Ahmed 32 (27); Imad Wasim 3-16 (4), Aamer Yamin 3-37 (4)
Karachi Kings - 162/5 (20)
Shoaib Malik 71* (49), Irfan Khan 37* (26); Mohammad Hasnain 2-29 (4), Qais Ahmad 1-29 (4)
Quetta Gladiators won by six runs
 "Aayush Mahajan")
