England all-rounder Moeen Ali notched his first half century in the Pakistan Super League as Multan Sultans defeated Karachi Kings by 52 runs on Friday.
Moeen, who also bowls spin, capitalised on an early let off when he was dropped on zero in the first over before blazing 65 off 42 balls, including four sixes.
Captain Shan Masood scored a more cautious 61 off the same number of balls as Multan made 6-186 after being put in to bat.
Karachi's middle-order batsmen struggled against veteran spinners Imran Tahir, who took 3-28, and Shahid Afridi (2-18). The Kings were bowled out for 134 with three overs left.
It was Multan's second successive victory at home and they are on top of the table after three wins from four. Karachi have two points from three matches and is fourth in the six-team tournament.
Sloppy fielding cost Karachi as Moeen and Shan put on 71 runs for the second wicket.
Moeen's knock continued his return to form with the bat but he was dismissed in the 12th over, miscuing a pull against fast bowler Umaid Asif and getting caught behind point.
Shan then held the innings together and hit seven fours and a six as Multan lost their overseas batsmen Rilee Rossouw (8) and Ravi Bopara (9) to the experienced Mohammad Amir.
Karachi couldn't get any momentum in their run chase once they lost No. 1-ranked Twenty20 batsman Babar Azam for 13.
Mohammad Ilyas took a splendid diving catch to dismiss him, running in from deep square leg as the batsman mistimed a pull shot against fast bowler Mohammad Irfan.
Batting at three, England's former ODI opener Alex Hales top scored with a breezy 29 of 21 balls, including a six and four fours. But the rest of the batting line-up crumbled against spinners in front of a capacity crowd of 25,000 at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Karachi slumped to 6-107 in the 14th over, before left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir (2-20) wrapped up the innings by claiming the last two wickets in one over.
Australian Associated Press
