KARACHI GLADIATORS vs KALSOFT KNIGHTS
(SEMIFINAL AL-WAKEEL CRICKET LEAGUE)
The semifinal of the Al-Wakeel Cricket League was a high octane clash between Karachi Gladiators and Kalsoft Knights. Both teams displayed exemplary cricket throughout the previous stage to earn spot in the semifinal.
Karachi Gladiators batted first and were off to a solid start. Sami Afridi and Farid Kasi laid foundations of a huge total with their brilliant stroke play. Sami scored 34 runs off 24 balls while Farid bagged 30 runs off 39 deliveries. Muneeb Ahmed was the star for the bowling side as he provided timely breakthroughs, which halted the flow of runs, Muneeb took 3 wickets for 23 runs and was assisted by Saad Aarbi who got 2 for 11. Apart from the openers no other batsman could contribute significant amount of runs. Faisal Haroon Badshah scored essential 18 runs in the concluding phase of the innings helping his team to post 126 runs on the board after 20 overs.
Kalsoft Knights had a shaky start as opening batsman Shahbaz Arif could not contribute more than 1 run before getting out. But Saad Maqsood and Adeel Virani starred in a match winning partnership. Adeel played cautiously and scored 38 runs off 52 balls while Saad scored a superb half century. Scoring 53 runs off 47 balls, Saad was the star of the day for Kalsoft Knights. Izat Shah and Hunain Usman grabbed one wicket apiece but that was not enough to stop Kalsoft Knights from chasing the target in the 19th over. Kalsoft Knights won by 7 wickets and secured a place in the much awaited final of the Al-Wakeel Cricket League.
