Captain David Warner and wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan smashed half-centuries as Karachi Kings chased down a tough target to beat Rawalpindi by five wickets in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10th match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing 198, the 2020 champions hit the winning runs with five wickets and four balls to spare, aided by a crucial 76-run third-wicket partnership between Assam and Warner.
Kings got off to a different start to their quest as they lost right-arm opener Muhammad Wasim for 27 in the third over.
Following the early setback, Salman Ali Agha (29) joined captain Warner and the duo batted smartly to anchor the run chase with a crucial 43-run partnership for the second wicket.
Agha’s dismissal paved the way for Azam to step out to bat at No. 5 ahead of veteran all-rounder Moeen Ali, and the move paid dividends for the 2020 champions as he, along with captain Warner, formed a crucial partnership for the Kings.
When Daryl Mitchell dismissed Kings captain Warner in the 16th over, Assam continued the attack and kept the former champions within touching distance before being dismissed by Mohammad Amir in the last over.
Assam top scored for Kings with 74 off 34 balls with 6 fours and a six, while Warner scored 50 off 36 balls with 6 fours and a six.
Mitchell struck on the first delivery of the last over, dismissing Moeen Ali (five), but Abbas Afridi hit a six off the next delivery to take his side to their third win in PSL 11.
Among the Rawalpindis bowlers, Mitchell took 3 for 32 in his 3.2 overs, while Naseem Shah and Amir claimed a wicket each.
Kings captain David Warner’s decision came first as the tournament debutants posted 197/6 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a fourth-wicket partnership between Mitchell and Billings.
The Bintis got off to a shock start to their innings when Hasan Ali dismissed their skipper Mohammad Rizwan (21) for just 28 runs in the third over.
Khushdil Shah dismissed Yasir Khan (eight) and Kamran Ghulam (10) in quick succession to take the score to 55/3 in 6.1 overs and gave the newcomers a further boost.
After an early setback, Mitchell and Billings combined to turn the game around with a 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket, during which both got their respective fifties.
Experienced fast bowler Hasan finally broke the menacing partnership by dismissing Billings in the 18th over, while Mitchell fell victim to Mir Hamza on the first delivery of the last over.
Mitchell remained Rawalpindi’s top scorer with 65 off 41 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes, while Billings hit 58 off 35 balls with 8 fours and a six.
Abdullah Fazal kept the momentum going for the Bindis with an unbeaten 17 off just eight balls and three fours, including two sixes.
Hasan was the standout bowler for Kings with 3 for 24 in his four overs, Kushdil took two wickets and Hamza took one.