DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Kieron Pollard produced an explosive knock while West Indies teammate Chris Gayle flattered to deceive as Karachi Kings lost for the first time in three outings with a six-wicket defeat to Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League here Thursday.
Sent in, Kings reached 154 for six off their 20 overs with opener Babar Azam top-scoring with 36 and Pollard weighing in with 31 from just 19 balls.
Gayle, batting at number three, passed 11 for the first time in six outing when he made 29 while Sri Lankan star Kumar Sangakkara chipped in with 28.
Kings were 63 without loss but lost three wickets for 31 runs to slip to 94 for three in the 14th over before Pollard and Gayle combined in a 37-run fourth wicket stand to rally the innings.
Pollard belted four fours and a six in his knock while Gayle, with just 30 runs in five previous innings, counted a four and two sixes in an 18-ball cameo.
Gayle eventually holed out in the deep off seamer Anwar Ali in the penultimate over and Pollard perished off the penultimate ball of the innings, also in the deep, off left-armer Mir Hamza.
In reply, Gladiators motored to their target with an over spare, behind half-centuries by openers Ahmed Shehzad (54) and Asad Shafiq (51) who posted 105 off 73 balls for the first wicket.
