PSL 2021: Karachi Kings beat Quetta Gladiators by 7 wickets

Defending champions Karachi Kings beat former champions Quetta Gladiators by seven wickets in the opening match of the Pakistan Super League's sixth edition, at the National Stadium in Karachi on Saturday.

The Gladiators, after being invited to bat first, lost wickets at regular intervals and could only muster 121 runs — with only four players reaching double-digits — in the face of some terrific seam bowling by the Kings, for whom the young Arshad Iqbal (3-16) proved instrumental.

In response, the Kings' run chase was never in trouble. Despite losing the early wicket of Sharjeel Khan, they immediately got back on their feet, reaching their target with more than six overs and seven wickets to spare.

Read more: HBL PSL 2021 kicks off with glittering opening ceremony

Babar Azam, for once, wasn't the top performer for the Kings. Joe Clarke's scintillating 23-ball 46 was the highlight of the port city team's innings. Later, Mohammad Nabi chipped in with an unbeaten 30 off 14 to get his team home.

The contest between the Kings and Gladiators at Karachi's National Stadium started after a glittering opening ceremony followed by fireworks.

Squads:

Quetta Gladiators: Anwar Ali, Azam Khan, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Zahid Mahmood, Chris Gayle, Tom Banton, Usman Khan Shinwari, Cameron Delport, Qais Ahmad, Abdul Nasir, Saim Ayub, Arish Ali Khan, Usman Khan, Hassan Khan (as partial replacement for Dale Steyn).

Read more: Karachi and Quetta players observe moment of silence for Ali Sadpara

Karachi Kings: Amir Yamin, Arshad Iqbal, Babar Azam, Colin Ingram, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Sharjeel Khan, Waqas Maqsood, Mohammad Nabi, Dan Christian, Chadwick Walton, Joe Clarke, Noor Ahmad, Danish Aziz, Mohammad Ilyas, Zeeshan Malik, Qasim Akram

Ball-by-ball updates of the match were given below the line

Karachi Kings beat Quetta Gladiators by seven wickets

Ben Cutting to Mohammad Nabi: 6 runs

Ben Cutting to Colin Ingram: 1 run

Ben Cutting to Mohammad Nabi: 1 run

Ben Cutting to Mohammad Nabi: 6 runs

Ben Cutting to Mohammad Nabi: 6 runs

End of 13th over: Karachi Kings — 106/3

Mohammad Hasnain to Colin Ingram: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Mohammad Nabi: 1 run 

Mohammad Hasnain to Mohammad Nabi: No run 

Mohammad Hasnain to Mohammad Nabi: No run 

Mohammad Hasnain to Colin Ingram: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Colin Ingram: No run

End of 12th over: Karachi Kings — 104/3

Qais Ahmad to Colin Ingram: 1 run

Qais Ahmad to Colin Ingram: 4 runs

Qais Ahmad to Mohammad Nabi: 1 run

Qais Ahmad to Colin Ingram: 1 run

Qais Ahmad to Mohammad Nabi: 1 run

Qais Ahmad to Colin Ingram: 1 run

End of 11th over: Karachi Kings — 95/3

Mohammad Hasnain to Mohammad Nabi: 4 runs 

Mohammad Hasnain to Mohammad Nabi: No run 

Mohammad Hasnain to Mohammad Nabi: 4 runs 

Mohammad Hasnain to Mohammad Nabi: No run 

Mohammad Hasnain to Mohammad Nabi: No run 

Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam: Caught behind

End of 10th over: Karachi Kings — 87/2

Qais Ahmad to Babar Azam: 1 run

Qais Ahmad to Colin Ingram: 1 run

Qais Ahmad to Colin Ingram: No run

Qais Ahmad to Babar Azam: 1 run

Qais Ahmad to Babar Azam: No run

Qais Ahmad to Babar Azam: 4 runs

End of ninth over: Karachi Kings — 80/2

Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Ingram: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Ingram: No run

Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Ingram: No run

Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Ingram: 1 run

End of eighth over: Karachi Kings — 76/2

Usman Khan Shinwari to Babar Azam: No run

Usman Khan Shinwari to Colin Ingram: 1 run

Usman Khan Shinwari to Babar Azam: 1 run

Usman Khan Shinwari to Babar Azam: 4 runs

Usman Khan Shinwari to Babar Azam: 2 runs

Usman Khan Shinwari to Colin Ingram: 1 run

End of seventh over: Karachi Kings — 67/2

Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam: No run 

Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam: 4 runs 

Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Ingram: 1 run 

Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Ingram: No run 

Mohammad Nawaz to Babar Azam: 1 run 

Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Ingram: 1 run 

End of sixth over: Karachi Kings — 60/2

Usman Khan Shinwari to Babar Azam: No run              

Usman Khan Shinwari to Colin Ingram: 1 run

Usman Khan Shinwari to Colin Ingram: No run

Usman Khan Shinwari to Colin Ingram: No run

Usman Khan Shinwari to  Joe Clarke: Out

Usman Khan Shinwari to Babar Azam: 1  run              

End of fifth over: Karachi Kings — 58/1

Qais Ahmed to Joe Clarke: 4 runs

Qais Ahmed to Joe Clarke: 3 runs, wide

Qais Ahmed to Joe Clarke: 4 runs

Qais Ahmed to Joe Clarke: 6 runs

Qais Ahmed to Joe Clarke: 4 runs

Qais Ahmed to Joe Clarke: 6 runs

Qais Ahmad to Joe Clarke: No run

End of fourth over: Karachi Kings — 31/1

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: 4 runs

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: 4 runs

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: 6 runs

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: No run

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: 4 runs

End of third over: Karachi Kings — 12/1

Mohammad Hasnain to Joe Clarke: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Joe Clarke: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Joe Clarke: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Joe Clarke: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Babar Azam: 1 run

End of second over: Karachi Kings — 8/1

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: No run

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: Wide

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: No run

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: No run

Naseem Shah to Babar Azam: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Joe Clarke: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Babar Azam: 1 run

End of first over: Karachi Kings — 4/1

Mohammad Hasnain to Joe Clarke: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Joe Clarke: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Sharjeel Khan: LBW — out

Mohammad Hasnain to Sharjeel Khan: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Sharjeel Khan: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Sharjeel Khan: 4 runs

Karachi Kings begin batting

Quetta Gladiators' all out on 121

Waqas Maqsood to Qais Ahmad: 6 runs

Waqas Maqsood to Qais Ahmad: Wide 

End of 18th over: Quetta Gladiators — 114/9

Mohammad Amir to to Naseem Shah: No run

Mohammad Amir to to Naseem Shah: No run

Mohammad Amir to Qais Ahmad: 1 run

Mohammad Amir to Qais Ahmad: No run

Mohammad Amir to to Naseem Shah: 1 run

Mohammad Amir to Qais Ahmad: 1 run

End of 17th over: Quetta Gladiators— 111/9

Arshad Iqbal to Naseem Shah: No run

Arshad Iqbal to Mohammad Hasnain: Caught out

Arshad Iqbal to Mohammad Hasnain: No run

Arshad Iqbal to Mohammad Hasnain: No run

Arshad Iqbal to Mohammad Hasnain: 4 runs

Arshad Iqbal to Qais Ahmad: 1 run

End of 16th over: Quetta Gladiators— 106/8

Mohammad Amir to Mohammad Hasnain: No run

Mohammad Amir to Usman Khan Shinwari: Caught out

Mohammad Amir to Usman Khan Shinwari: Wide

Mohammad Amir to Usman Khan Shinwari: No run

Mohammad Amir to Usman Khan Shinwari: No run

Mohammad Amir to Usman Khan Shinwari: No run

Mohammad Amir to Usman Khan Shinwari: No run

Mohammad Amir to Qais Ahmad: 1 run

End of 15th over: Quetta Gladiators — 104/7

Arshad Iqbal to Ben Cutting: Out

Arshad Iqbal to Ben Cutting: 2 runs

Arshad Iqbal to Ben Cutting: No run

Arshad Iqbal to Qais Ahmad: 1 run

Arshad Iqbal to Qais Ahmad: No run

Arshad Iqbal to Qais Ahmad: 4 runs

End of 14th over: Quetta Gladiators — 97/6

Imad Wasim to Ben Cutting: No run

Imad Wasim to Ben Cutting: No run

Imad Wasim to Ben Cutting: 4 runs

Imad Wasim to Qais Ahmad: 1 run  

Imad Wasim to  Ben Cutting: 1 run

End of 13th over: Quetta Gladiators — 91/6

Arshad Iqbal to Ben Cutting: 1 run

Arshad Iqbal to Azam Khan: Caught out

Arshad Iqbal to Azam Khan: No run

Arshad Iqbal to Ben Cutting: 1 run

Arshad Iqbal to Ben Cutting: No run

Arshad Iqbal to Azam Khan: 1 run

End of 12th over: Quetta Gladiators — 89/5

Imad Wasim to Ben Cutting: No run

Imad Wasim to Ben Cutting: 4 runs

Imad Wasim to Ben Cutting: No run

Imad Wasim to Ben Cutting: No run

Imad Wasim to Azam Khan: 1 run

Imad Wasim to Azam Khan: 6 runs

End of 11th over: Quetta Gladiators — 78/5

Daniel Christian to Azam Khan: 1 runs

Daniel Christian to Azam Khan: Wide

Daniel Christian to Azam Khan: Mohammad Nawaz run out

Daniel Christian to Mohammad Nawaz: 1 run

Daniel Christian to Azam Khan: 1 run

Daniel Christian to Mohammad Nawaz: 1 run

Daniel Christian to Azam Khan: 1 run

End of 10th over: Quetta Gladiators — 72/4

Imad Wasim to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Imad Wasim to Azam Khan: 1 run

Imad Wasim to Mohammad Nawaz: 1 run

Imad Wasim to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Imad Wasim to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Imad Wasim to Azam Khan: 1 run

End of ninth over: Quetta Gladiators — 68/4

Daniel Christian to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Daniel Christian to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Daniel Christian to Chris Gayle: Caught out

Daniel Christian to Chris Gayle: No run

Daniel Christian to Chris Gayle: 2 runs

Daniel Christian to Chris Gayle: Wide

Daniel Christian to Chris Gayle: 4 runs

End of eight over: Quetta Gladiators — 61/3

Waqas Maqsood to Azam Khan: 2 runs

Waqas Maqsood to Azam Khan: No run

Waqas Maqsood to Azam Khan:  4 runs

Waqas Maqsood to Saim Ayub: Caught out 

Waqas Maqsood to Chris Gayle: 1 run

Waqas Maqsood to Saim Ayub: 1 run

End of seventh over: Quetta Gladiators — 53/2

Arshad Iqbal to Chris Gayle: 2 runs

Arshad Iqbal to Saim Ayub: 1 run

Arshad Iqbal to Saim Ayub: No run

Arshad Iqbal to Saim Ayub: No run

Arshad Iqbal to Chris Gayle: 1 run

Arshad Iqbal to Chris Gayle: No run

End of sixth over: Quetta Gladiators — 49/2

Waqas Maqsood to Saim Ayub: No run

Waqas Maqsood to Saim Ayub: No run

Waqas Maqsood to Saim Ayub: 4 runs

Waqas Maqsood to Saim Ayub: No run

Waqas Maqsood to Chris Gayle: 1 run

Waqas Maqsood to Saim Ayub: 1 run

End of fifth over: Quetta Gladiators — 43/2

Amir Yamin to Chris Gayle: No run

Amir Yamin to Chris Gayle: 6 runs

Amir Yamin to Chris Gayle: 6 runs

Amir Yamin to Chris Gayle: 4 runs

Amir Yamin to Chris Gayle: No run

Amir Yamin to Chris Gayle: 2 runs

End of fourth over: Quetta Gladiators — 25/2

Mohammad Amir to Chris Gayle: 1 run

Mohammad Amir to Chris Gayle: No run

Mohammad Amir to Saim Ayub: 1 run

Mohammad Amir to Saim Ayub: No run 

Mohammad Amir to Chris Gayle: 1 run

Mohammad Amir to Chris Gayle: 4 runs

End of third over: Quetta Gladiators — 18/2

Amir Yamin to Saim Ayub: No run 

Amir Yamin to Saim Ayub: Wide 

Amir Yamin to Saim Ayub: No run 

Amir Yamin to Sarfaraz Ahmed: Caught behind 

Amir Yamin to Sarfaraz Ahmed: No run

Amir Yamin to Sarfaraz Ahmed: No run

Amir Yamin to Sarfaraz Ahmed: 4 runs

End of second over: Quetta Gladiators — 13/1

Mohammad Amir to Chris Gayle: No run

Mohammad Amir to Sarfaraz Ahmed: 1 run

Mohammad Amir to Chris Gayle: 1 run

Mohammad Amir to Chris Gayle: No run

Mohammad Amir to Sarfaraz Ahmed: 1 run

Mohammad Amir to Sarfaraz Ahmed: No run

End of first over: Quetta Gladiators — 10/1

Imad Wasim to Chris Gayle: No run

Imad Wasim to Chris Gayle: 4 runs

Imad Wasim to Tom Banton: Caught out

Imad Wasim to Tom Banton: 4 runs

Imad Wasim to Sarfaraz Ahmed: 1 run

Imad Wasim to Tom Banton: 1 run

8:00pm — Quetta Gladiators begin batting with Sarfaraz Ahmed and Tom Banton as openers

7: 30pm — Karachi Kings have won the toss and decided to bowl first in the opening match of PSL 2021

7:18pm — The toss will take place on 7:30

6:45pm — PSL's opening ceremony kicks off