Ravi Bopara smashed an unbeaten half-century and returned figures of 4-0-16-6 to help Karachi Kings beat Lahore Qalandars by 27 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
In reply to the 178-5 posted by Kings, the Qalandars were restricted to 151-8 in 20 overs.
Qalandars opening batsmen Chris Gayle (37) and Cameron Delport (55) provided a solid 98-run stand for the first wicket, but were not backed by the batsmen coming down the order.
Delport’s departure saw a procession of wickets as Bopara took the steam out of the Lahore chase.
Bopara, smashed an unbeaten 71 off 43 balls with three fours and four sixes to continue his fine run of form, and returned to dismiss Gayle, Umar Akmal (19), Dwayne Bravo (zero), Mohammad Rizwan (12), Hammad Azam (zero) and Naved Yasin (zero).
Usama Mir and Sohail Khan also claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, Kings’ opener Nauman Anwar finally came good as he scored 35 off 25 with two fours and three sixes to give his side a solid start.
Anwar was gifted several chances by the Qalandars side who were being led by Bravo.
Left-arm spinners Zohaib Khan and Zafar Gohar were the pick of the bowlers for Qalandars picking up two wickets each in the run-fest, whereas Kevon Cooper took one.
Lahore Qalandars
Chris Gayle, Cameron Delport, Naved Yasin, Umar Akmal, Dwayne Bravo (C), Mohammad Rizwan (W), Hammad Azam, Zohaib Khan, Zafar Gohar, Kevon Cooper, Ehsan Adil
Karachi Kings
Nauman Anwar, James Vince, Shakib Al Hasan, Ravi Bopara, Shoaib Malik (C), Mushfiqur Rahim (W), Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Usama Mir, Sohail Khan, Mir Hamza
