Ahmed Shehzad overcame a poor run of scores with a blazing 71 off 46 balls at the Dubai Stadium to power Quetta Gladiators’ emphatic eight-wicket victory against the fancied Karachi Kings in their Pakistan Super League battle yesterday.

The Gladiators displaced the Kings to lead the five-team standings. Peshawar Zalmi, who notched their second successive victory last night, also have four points but the Gladiators nosed ahead as they have a better net run rate (+1.675) than the former (+1.356).

The Kings did well to post a fighting total of 147 for seven with James Vince (30 off 33 balls), captain Shoaib Malik (37 off 25 balls) and Ravi Bopara (40 off 29 balls) leading the run charge.

But any hopes of restricting the Gladiators were put to rest by openers Luke Wright (47 off 39 balls) and Shahzad who raised 92 runs for the first wicket in 11 overs.

Shahzad, whose previous best in last five T20 games was 16 (against New Zealand last month), was in a punishing mood as he smashed five fours and four sixes.

Kevin Pietersen, who came in at the fall of Wright’s wicket, hastened the finish smacking two sixes and a four in his unbeaten 29 off 17 balls.

In the other game , Zalmi bowlers claimed the first three Lahore Qal-andars wickets for four runs before restricting them to 117 for six.

Tamim Iqbal (55 not out off 47 balls) and Mohammad Hafeez (43 off 37 balls) then smashed 95 runs in 11.2 overs, the best opening stand of the tournament, as the Zalmis cruised to a nine-wicket win.