Nine balls of bedlam: how Karachi Kings nearly won the unwinnable
Karachi Kings needed more than a boundary a ball, and yet somehow, they found themselves in pole position with four deliveries to go
ESPNcricinfo staff
22-Feb-2023
Imad Wasim struck important runs late in the innings to propel Karachi Kings • PCB
Karachi Kings needed 37 off the final 9 balls against Multan Sultans, all but mathematically out of the contest. But amidst a slew of extras and a litany of sixes, it was suddenly down to 6 off four balls, with 31 coming off the previous five. In the end, the Kings would still fall short by three runs. How it came to that is an almost impossible story to tell, but this is how ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball commentary narrated it.
18.4
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, SIX, slower delivery that sits up to be hit outside off stump. Imad winds up and smokes it over the bowler's head for a maximum! Is it too little, too late, though?
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, SIX, slower delivery that sits up to be hit outside off stump. Imad winds up and smokes it over the bowler's head for a maximum! Is it too little, too late, though?
18.5
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, SIX, six more! Oh well! Slower bumper outside off stump. Imad picks up the change in pace and the length early and slams it over long on
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, SIX, six more! Oh well! Slower bumper outside off stump. Imad picks up the change in pace and the length early and slams it over long on
18.6
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, 1 wide, full delivery outside off stump. Imad swings and misses but then sees the umpire indulge in a bit of exercise. Now then....24 needed off 7 balls. Another six, and things will get very interesting!
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, 1 wide, full delivery outside off stump. Imad swings and misses but then sees the umpire indulge in a bit of exercise. Now then....24 needed off 7 balls. Another six, and things will get very interesting!
18.6
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, 1 wide, Ilyas is cracking under pressure! Full toss speared way outside off stump. Left alone by Imad and called a wide by the umpire!
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, 1 wide, Ilyas is cracking under pressure! Full toss speared way outside off stump. Left alone by Imad and called a wide by the umpire!
18.6
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, 1 run, dropped, oh dear! Low full toss wide outside off stump. Imad chalks it back to the bowler, who is surprised by how slow it comes back to him, grassing it eventually
Mohammad Ilyas to Imad Wasim, 1 run, dropped, oh dear! Low full toss wide outside off stump. Imad chalks it back to the bowler, who is surprised by how slow it comes back to him, grassing it eventually
Okay then. 22 needed off 6 balls. On most days, you would back the fielding side to get the job done. But strange things happen in cricket. Imad on strike; Abbas to bowl the final over.
19.1
Abbas Afridi to Imad Wasim, (no ball) SIX, chest-high full toss and that has been pumped over cow corner! The worst ball Abbas could have bowled at this stage, and Imad just waits in his crease before swatting it for six! Called a No ball too!
Abbas Afridi to Imad Wasim, (no ball) SIX, chest-high full toss and that has been pumped over cow corner! The worst ball Abbas could have bowled at this stage, and Imad just waits in his crease before swatting it for six! Called a No ball too!
Free hit coming up. 15 needed off 6 now.
19.1
Abbas Afridi to Imad Wasim, 1 run, back of a elngth delivery outside off stump. Imad swings at it and clogs it down the ground for just a single. 14 off 5 now
Abbas Afridi to Imad Wasim, 1 run, back of a elngth delivery outside off stump. Imad swings at it and clogs it down the ground for just a single. 14 off 5 now
19.2
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, 1 wide, length delivery fired a mile outside off stump. Cutting lets it go and the umpire has no qualms in calling it a wide. Abbas is now feeling the pinch. 13 off 5
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, 1 wide, length delivery fired a mile outside off stump. Cutting lets it go and the umpire has no qualms in calling it a wide. Abbas is now feeling the pinch. 13 off 5
19.2
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, SIX, and smacked into oblivion! Slower delivery that lands right in the arc. Cutting clears his front leg and clatters it over deep mid wicket and into next week! That went a 107 metres!
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, SIX, and smacked into oblivion! Slower delivery that lands right in the arc. Cutting clears his front leg and clatters it over deep mid wicket and into next week! That went a 107 metres!
7 off 4, and this has suddenly become the Kings' game to lose
19.3
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, 1 wide, another wretched wide delivery outside off stump. Cutting shoulders arms as the umpire indulges in some more exercise
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, 1 wide, another wretched wide delivery outside off stump. Cutting shoulders arms as the umpire indulges in some more exercise
6 off 4 now, and the wheels seem to have come off for the Sultans. Can Cutting finish it with one blow?
19.3
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, no run, slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Cutting has a wild swipe at it and only connects with fresh air. More drama!
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, no run, slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Cutting has a wild swipe at it and only connects with fresh air. More drama!
19.4
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, OUT, drilled straight to long off! Oh my! Another twist in the tale! Slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Cutting looks to fetch it and smash it over long off but the lack of pace means that he can't generate enough power. He arrows it straight down Pollard's throat, who gobbles up the chance with minimal fuss!
Abbas Afridi to Cutting, OUT, drilled straight to long off! Oh my! Another twist in the tale! Slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Cutting looks to fetch it and smash it over long off but the lack of pace means that he can't generate enough power. He arrows it straight down Pollard's throat, who gobbles up the chance with minimal fuss!
Irfan Khan is the new batter at the crease. 6 needed off 2 balls. Where is this game heading?
19.5
Abbas Afridi to Irfan Khan, 1 run, slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Irfan fetches it and drags it down to long on for just a single 5 runs needed off the final ball. A boundary will ensure a Super Over. A six, and the Kings will win
Abbas Afridi to Irfan Khan, 1 run, slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Irfan fetches it and drags it down to long on for just a single 5 runs needed off the final ball. A boundary will ensure a Super Over. A six, and the Kings will win
19.6
Abbas Afridi to Imad Wasim, 1 run, Sultans win! Back of a length delivery outside off stump. Imad backs away and powers it down the ground. Long off, though, can cut it off and that hands the Sultans their fourth successive victory! What an ending, what a game!
Abbas Afridi to Imad Wasim, 1 run, Sultans win! Back of a length delivery outside off stump. Imad backs away and powers it down the ground. Long off, though, can cut it off and that hands the Sultans their fourth successive victory! What an ending, what a game!