• Shinwari shines for Kings in Abu Dhabi

    Pakistan’s Usman Shinwari was at his scintillating best for the Karachi Kings during their Pakistan Super League fixture against Multan Sultans to earn Monday’s Turbo Bowler accolade, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.

    The left-arm pacer carried over his blistering form from Pakistan’s tour of South Africa into his stint in the PSL for the Kings with a brilliant 4-15 in his four overs against the Sultans in Abu Dhabi. His rip-roaring spell reduced the Shoaib Malik-led Sultans to just 118-7 in their 20 overs after the Kings had won the toss and elected to bowl first.

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    Shinwari was deadly accurate at the top of the innings, and duly dismissed both opener Umar Siddiq (5) and No 3 Johnson Charles (7) by getting past their defences and rattling their stumps. The prolific paceman continued his onslaught by trapping Sultans’ top-scorer Hammad Azam (29 off 30 balls, 2×4) leg before, with the decision upheld even after the batsman decided to review it.

    Shinwari finished off his rampage the very next delivery with another dead-straight ball that crashed on to Mohammad Irfan’s middle stump, dismissing the tail-ender for a golden duck with the last ball of his spell at the end of the 18th over.

    The Kings made light work of the chase, thanks to Liam Livingstone’s 53 not out (42 balls, 5×4, 1×6). Shinwari was awarded the Player of the Match award as his heroics helped the Kings cruise to a comfortable five-wicket victory over the struggling Sultans.

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    The Kings’ fourth win after eight matches sees them climb to fourth on the log standings, while the Sultans stay rooted to bottom place with no chance of qualifying for the playoffs after having lost seven of their nine games this season.

    Scorecard

    Photo: Karachi Kings/Twitter