Match Details

KRK vs QTG, 1st T20, PSL 2021 summary

KRK

126-3(13.5)

Karachi Kings won by 7 wickets

QTG

(18.2)121-10

Match info

Summary

Scorecard

Commentary

Sourya: So the Kings have begun their quest to win back-to-back PSL titles in regal fashion tonight at Karachi and it is back to the drawing board for the Quetta Gladiators. The tournament has just started though and we have a long road to cover. That's it for our coverage tonight though and it is time for me, Sourya Chowdhury, to say goodbye on me and my colleagues, Kingshuk Kusari and Vikhyat Jain's, behalf. See you soon. Goodnight.

Imad Wasim, Karachi Kings captain: "We have so many options with the ball. In fact, Nabi didn't even bowl. I think the way Joe started, it was absolutely fantastic to watch, I have played with him earlier also. Then Babar did what he does, his magic and then Nabi and Ingram finished it off."

Arshad Iqbal has been declared the Player of the Match.

Sarfaraz Ahmed, Quetta Gladiators captain: "The target in our mind was 170-180. But we were not able to execute with the bat. I did open in this match but looking at our middle order today, we will have analyse where is my best position going forward. The runs were too less and hence I attacked with the fast bowlers."

Joe Clarke, who also had a productive night keeping, said: "They bowled really well, I have to be honest. It's certainly very different from T10 where you have to go from the first ball. Four catches, it's been a while since I had the gloves on, so it's a nice feeling."

Sourya: This could have been a potentially tricky chase under lights on a sporting wicket, and the Kings lost Sharjeel Khan early as the Gladiators' bowlers smelt blood and began getting on top. But after the early struggles, the game was effectively settled by an immaculate 23-ball 46 by new PSL entrant Joe Clarke who seemed to be batting on a different wicket from everyone else. His innings was studded with 6 fours and 3 sixes. Such was his dominance that star man Babar Azam played a very subdued second fiddle in their match-winning partnership. He wasn't required to be at his best tonight and he fell to a fine delivery from Mohammad Hasnain. But it was a formality by then and Mohammad Nabi played a fine cameo and with Colin Ingram wrapped things up.

Sourya: Pacer Arshad Iqbal was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/16 and bowled with blistering pace, but others like the veteran Dan Christian, who got rid of the stuttering Chris Gayle (top-scorer by a mile with 39 but never at his usual best), played their part. The Gladiators were all out in the 19th over as none of their big names like captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, Tom Banton or Ben Cutting getting going.