LAHORE: The playoff race is getting tighter in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 and the qualification paths for both Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators are now very clear ahead of their crucial match.
For Karachi to make it to the playoffs, they need to win today’s game and both Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen need to lose their matches.
If those results happen, Karachi will qualify without a net run rate. However, if net run rate matters, Karachi need to win by a big margin to improve their position.
The same is true for gladiators. They also need to rely on a win today and losses to Lahore and Hyderabad. If those conditions are met, Quetta will clinch a playoff spot as their net run rate is better than other teams in the race.
In the game itself, Quetta opted to bat first against Karachi and the decision paid off immediately as they scored 195 for 6 in 20 overs.
The total was driven by the excellent batting of skipper South Shakeel and Riley Rossow. Quetta had a terrible start, losing their first two wickets for nil in the opening over, but Shakeel and Rosov then rebuilt the innings with a strong partnership.
Rossov scored 90 off 54 balls with 8 fours and 6 sixes while Shakeel scored 57 off 34 balls.
Their 147-run partnership was the highlight of the innings before both fell late. Dinesh Chandimal remained unbeaten on 30 as Quetta finished strong.