KARACHI: Karachi Kings stand-in captain Moeen Ali admitted his team’s defeat at key stages of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash against Multan Sultans, especially during the powerplay and at the death.
Speaking after the match, the English all-rounder highlighted how the early overs were decisive, with Karachi unable to fully contain the Sultans’ pace.
“I wasn’t happy with how we handled the powerplay in the first innings. Multan Sultans scored 70 in those first six overs and that was the momentum in their favour. Even on a flat wicket, you can’t let the game get away from you that early,” Moin said.
He admitted that Karachi were able to recover briefly in the middle overs.
“To our credit, we pulled it off well through the middle overs, but the last two overs were very costly. That can happen against a side that plays the way they do, but we didn’t execute our plans well at the death,” he said.
Moeen reflected further in the chase, where Karachi lost wickets at regular intervals and failed to form sustainable partnerships.
“Then, during the chase, we lost wickets at crucial intervals. We never managed to build the required partnerships or maintain the pace, which meant the target was always moving out of reach,” he added.
Despite some strong individual performances, the 38-year-old admitted that missed opportunities on the field and restlessness under pressure ultimately made the difference.
“Reeza Hendricks was exceptional today; he’s a player who can change the complexion of a game from anywhere. However, we probably conceded 10 to 15 more runs in the field. When you’re chasing totals, you need everything to go your way and failing to coordinate with the bat was an incredibly difficult task,” he said.
Multan Sultans recorded their fifth win in PSL 11 with a strong all-round display to beat Karachi Kings by 11 runs at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
Batting first, the Sultan team scored 207 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs. Shaun Masood top scored with 46 off 25 balls and Josh Phillip with 44 off 23 balls.
Awais Zafar added 36 and Mohammad Imran provided the late fireworks with 26 off 8 balls.
For Karachi Kings, Khushdil Shah took 3-35 while Moeen Ali took 2 wickets. Adam Jamba and Hasan Ali took one each.
In reply, Kings were bowled out for 196 in 19.4 overs despite late opposition from Abbas Afridi’s 34 off 16 balls and Hasan Ali’s 23 off 10 balls. Reesa Hendricks scored 49 runs.
With the bowling, Arafat Minhas led the Sultans’ attack with 3-32, while Peter Siddle bagged two wickets as Multan sealed a narrow but deserved victory.