Twitter Reactions: Quetta Gladiators register a consolation win over Karachi Kings to end PSL campaign on a high

It was the final league stage game of this 2020 edition of the PSL. However, the top four were already fixed unless there was a miracle in store from Quetta Gladiators. They needed to either win by 148 runs or finish the chase inside three overs if they batted second. That didn’t happen but they did manage to seal a consolation win and avoided the wooden spoon.

Cameron Delport’s 62 lifts Karachi Kings to 150

Karachi Kings won the toss and opted to bat for a change. It was Naseem Shah who gave Quetta Gladiators a dream start when he knocked over Sharjeel Khan off just the second ball of the game. Iftikhar Ahmed walked in and scored a fluent 21 before departing which left Karachi at 30/2. That’s when Cameron Delport walked in.

He stitched a 42-run stand with Babar Azam who looked out of sorts but Delport was the aggressor and did most of the scoring. Azam’s struggle came to an end in the 12th over. Chadwick Walton supported Delport really well and the duo added 73 for the fourth wicket. It was this partnership that set Karachi on course for a decent score. Delport scored 62 off 44 balls which included five fours and two sixes. Eventually, they ended on 150/5 after 20 overs.

Shane Watson, Khurram Manzoor fifties give Quetta Gladiators a consolation win

Quetta Gladiators had a ditto start to the chase as they lost a wicket off the second ball. Ahmed Shehzad was out for a two-ball duck and Shane Watson was joined by Khurram Manzoor. It was the latter who took the attack to the bowlers first and landed the first punches.

The left-hander found the fence consistently and put Karachi Kings under pressure straight away. Watson soon joined the act and both the batsmen punished some lacklustre bowling. Both of them scored the 60s. Watson’s strike-rate was 194.12 while Manzoor’s was 157.50. It was their 118-run stand that set the tone for the chase as Quetta won the game in the 17th over itself. It was Quetta’s fourth win and they ensured they didn’t finish last.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

Shane Watson "It has been incredible to be part of the first PSL which was played entirely in Pakistan. At all the grounds we went to, the crowds have been absolutely phenomenal and it has been really special to be part of this event" #PSLV

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 15, 2020

Feeling shattered for @TeamQuetta

Not sure what went wrong. I offer up the underutilization of Fawad Ahmed and the loss of form by Shahzad.

Azam Khan a positive.

— Dennis #KalaJora (@DennisCricket_) March 15, 2020

A big shout out and congratulations to the Quetta Gladiators on the win! Remarkable performance by Shayne Watson and brilliant innings by Khurram Manzoor! Good luck for the next season!@TeamQuetta @IamBilalAshraf pic.twitter.com/sQbLDXRVNz

— Fawad Alam (@iamfawadalam25) March 15, 2020

Shane Watson "To have received the love and support that I have got here is very special and this is one of the reasons I have had such an awesome time here in Pakistan" #PSLV

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 15, 2020

Shane Watson "Babar Azam is a quality player. He is fairly low-risk with what he does and scores a lot of T20 runs which is one of the reasons why he is such a world-class batsman" #PSL2020 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/2maI1vUrnU

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 15, 2020

While looking at the history of Pakistan in the last few years, Haider Ali will be making his debut against Ireland in July.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 15, 2020

Anddddd a consolation win for @TeamQuetta in their last match against a depleted @KarachiKingsARY team.
Quetta will have to go back to drawing board and see what went wrong this year. #PSL2020 #QuettaGladiators #KarachiKings #KKvQG

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) March 15, 2020

So Islamabad United finishes at the bottom 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

— Ghumman (@emclub77) March 15, 2020

3 of the 4 semi-finalists have never previously won the PSL.

2 times winners Islamabad United are out.

Last year's winners Quetta Gladiators are also out.#PSL2020 pic.twitter.com/tcYeOLYkaj

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 15, 2020

Quetta Gladiators crash out of PSL5. They relied too heavily on Ben Cutting, Shane Watson and Jason Roy and were let down by most of their local players who were extremely poor with both bat and ball. Also Quetta gave some players who flopped far too many chances #PSL2020

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 15, 2020

Multan v Peshwar and Karachi v Lahore PSL SFs. It took 30th & last group match to decide the semi finalists. standard of cricket and quality were great, good balance between bat and ball, played by No 1 T20I team & batsman, 1 of the top 2 leagues along with BBL. #PSL #Cricket

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) March 15, 2020

Mohammad Rizwan "Only my captain can tell you why I haven't play in more games as I am doing my best. They are saying I am a top order batsman but when there could be a chance for me to play, I am not given that chance" #PSL2020 pic.twitter.com/meNVCAgkVx

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 15, 2020

Shane Watson "PSL has been phenomenal. I've had an amazing time here to be able to travel around different parts of Pakistan. The crowds all around Pakistan were absolutely phenomenal. Its been an absolute privilege to be here & experience something very cool" #PSL2020

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 15, 2020

Unpopular opinion: Babar Azam deserves ONLY respect from Cricket Twitter in India.

— Docjun Cena (@LifeIsAnElation) March 15, 2020

Khurram Manzoor just given one chance at PSL5 by Quetta Gladiators:

Runs 63
Balls faced 40
Strike-rate 157.50
Fours 9
Sixes 1#PSL2020 #KKvQG

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 15, 2020

Most balls bowled over 145KpH in PSL5 #PSL2020 pic.twitter.com/677lwxA23z

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 15, 2020