ISLAMABAD: Beleaguered former HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Karachi Kings on Wednesday lost their eighth consecutive match of the tournament while playing against table-toppers Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The month-long HBL PSL 7 tournament, Pakistan’s professional T20 cricket league, kicked off in Karachi last month and features six teams that each represent a Pakistani city.
Karachi Kings won the toss ahead of the match and decided to bat. However, skipper Babar Azam (2) could not score much for his team and lost his wicket to Rumman Raees after facing four deliveries.
Opener Sharjeel Khan (36) and Joe Clarke (40) tried to stabilize the innings, though Karachi lost their second wicket in the 11th over on 77.
Other batters tried to keep the strike rate high while contributing to their team's total, but Karachi could only score 174 at the loss of 6 wickets at the end of the first 20 overs.
Multan's Shahnawaz Dahani was a little expensive with an economy rate of 11. Yet, he was the highest wicket taker for his team and sent Qasim Akram (13) and Mohammad Nabi (21) back to the pavilion.
With a target of 175 before them, defending champions Multan Sultans sent the opening pair to the crease with great confidence.
Shan Masood (45) was the first batter to lose his wicket to the Kings during the 15th over on 100. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan (76 off 56 deliveries) once again led from the front but was caught by Qasim Akram on Chris Jordan's ball in the 17th over.
Tim David (13) could not stay on the crease for long and lost his wicket to Mir Hamza.
After Multan lost their third wicket on 141, Rilee Roussouw (14 off 5 balls) and Khushdil Khan (21 off 9 deliveries) punished Karachi bowlers before winning the match by 7 wickets with 3 balls left.
With yet another PSL7 loss, skipper Babar Azam's Karachi Kings have yet to register their first victory in the tournament after suffering defeats at the hands of every other franchise.
Defending champions Multan Sultans have only lost one match to Lahore Qalandars and already qualified for the playoffs.
