KPL 2: Ali Imran, Shoaib Malik shine as Mirpur Royals beat Kotli Lions by six wickets

MUZAFFARABAD: Ali Imran and Shoaib Malik shined as Mirpur Royals beat Kotli Lions in the second match of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) here at the Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Imran was exceptional as he scored a 57-ball 84, including seven fours and four massive sixes. While his opening partner Hassan Nawaz was sent back to the pavilion after scoring only five runs.

Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik also played important innings, scoring 48 runs in 42 balls.

For Lions, Khurram Shehzad delivered with the ball as he took three scalps, while Nadeem Khalil claimed a wicket.

Earlier, all-rounder Danish Aziz steered Kotli Lions to a modest 151 runs.

Danish scored a magnificent half-century including six fours and one maximum to set a modest target for the Royals.

Opener Hanif Azad looked good as he smashed five fours, scoring 26 runs in 15 balls, however, he was sent back to the pavilion by sling pacer Salman Irshad.

Skipper Khurram Manzoor could only score six runs while wicket-keeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed scored 24 runs in 26 balls before getting out to Zubair Khan.

Hassan Khan also played a significant inning with a score of 27 runs to help the Lions reach 151.

For Royals, Zubair claimed two wickets, while Salman, Imad Wasim, Shadab Majeed and Yasir Shah took a scalp each.

Playing XIs:

Kotli Lions: Danish Aziz, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Ahsan Ali, Khurram Shahzad (c), Irfanullah Shah, Khalid Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Hassan Khan, Hanif Azad, Basit Ali, Nadeem Khalil 

Mirpur Royals: Imad Wasim, Shoaib Malik (c), Haris Sohail,  Ali Imran, Salman Irshad, Mohammad Akhlaq (wk), Zubair Khan Lodhy, Hassan Nawaz,  Shadab Majeed, Moin Pervaiz, Yasir Shah