KARACHI: Qadir Kashmiri’s combined match figures of 5/14 powered Clifton Populars to a massive 99-run victory over Karachi Knights in the 11th match of the Karachi Tape Ball Premier League (KTPL) Season 4 here at the Moin Khan Academy on Thursday.
Put into bat first, the Populars registered a mammoth first-innings’ total of 113/1 on the board, courtesy of a flamboyant opening partnership between skipper Asad Shah and Fahad Mian Chunnu.
Fahad was the core aggressor of the platform-setting stand, as he smashed six fours and four sixes on his way to a 16-ball 50 before falling victim to Fazal Ur Rehman in the fifth over.
Asad, on the other hand, carried his bat all the way through and returned unbeaten with 48 from 20 balls, laced with three fours and four sixes.
In response, the Knights could score 70/3 in their allotted six overs and thus succumbed to a 43-run deficit.
Middle-order batter Ejaz Ahmed remained the top-scorer for the Knights, thanks to his 10-ball 24, featuring three sixes.
Qadir was the standout bowler for the Populars as he took two wickets for just 15 runs in his two overs.
Leading by 43 runs, the Populars were equally impressive with the bat in the second innings as they notched up 117/2 in their six overs, setting the Knights a daunting 160-run target.
Top-order batter Hassan Qadeer top-scored for the Populars in the second innings, thanks to his 19-ball 61, studded with five fours and six sixes.
Besides him, Fahad (26) and Haq Nawaz (22) made notable contributions.
Set to chase a massive 160-run target, the Knights only managed 61/5 in their six overs and thus succumbed to a 99-run defeat.
Opening batter Kamran Arif offered some fight with his nine-ball 18 up the order while the rest made meagre contributions.
Qadir led the bowling charge for the Populars, taking three wickets for just eight runs in his two overs, while Nisar Bullet struck twice.
The 99-run victory lifted Clifton Populars to the second spot in the KTPL Season 4 standings with six points in three matches, while Karachi Knights succumbed to the bottom with back-to-back defeats.
