Pakistan superstar batsman Babar Azam continued his exceptional T20 form, scoring a match-winning unbeaten 63, to coast the Kings to victory with eight balls to spare. The Pakistan captain was named player of the match as well as player of the tournament, having finished as the competition’s top run scorer.
Important Role
Mohammad Amir played a key part in the final, taking figures of 0-38 from his four overs, all of which came either during the powerplay or at the death. The left-arm fast bowler finished the tournament as Karachi Kings’ leading wicket taker, with 10 wickets taken at 33, including a match-winning performance against Peshawar Zalmi earlier in the season, where he took 4-25.
Although Cameron Delport did not play in the final, the South African all-rounder played an important role in the Kings’ journey to the final, scoring 178 runs in his eight games, including a rapid 62 in Karachi’s final league match against Quetta Gladiators back in March.
What Essex Have Been Missing
Amir, 28, has played for Essex since 2017 across first-class and T20 cricket and played a key role in Essex’s victorious run to the 2019 Vitality Blast trophy, as well as in their title-winning County Championship season the same year. The Pakistani cricketer was unable to play for Essex during the 2020 season due to a combination of the Covid-19 pandemic and being on international duty for Pakistan.
Delport, 31, is a T20 specialist, having not played a List A or first-class match since 2018. The South African was Essex’s leading run scorer in the T20 Blast in 2019 on their way to the title, which included an incredible 49-ball 129 against Surrey. He continued his good form for the 2020 season as well, finishing as Essex’s second highest run scorer behind Ryan ten Doeschate, though the team couldn’t replicate their success of the previous season, finishing fifth in their group.
