Karachi Kings defeat Lahore Qalandars by two-wickets. In a gripping showdown at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine, Karachi Kings clinched a dramatic two-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars on Saturday.
The Kings successfully chased down a challenging target of 176 runs on the final delivery of the match, dealing a blow to Qalandars who suffered their fourth consecutive defeat of the season.
As the tension mounted in the final over, Karachi required 11 runs with Hasan Ali and Irfan Khan Niazi at the crease, facing the bowling of spinner Ahsan Bhatti. Hasan Ali’s powerful six narrowed the gap to just five runs, intensifying the pressure on both sides.
Despite a valiant effort by Qalandars, including a stunning catch by Haris Rauf, Mir Hamza’s decisive inside edge off the last ball sealed the fate in favor of Karachi Kings.
The Kings’ chase had a rocky start, losing four wickets within the powerplay.
However, a resilient partnership between Kieron Pollard and Shoaib Malik turned the tide, amassing a crucial 95 runs for the fifth wicket.
Pollard’s aggressive innings of 58 runs off 33 balls, embellished with five sixes and a boundary, proved pivotal in steering Karachi towards victory.
Meanwhile, Malik provided stability with his 39 runs off 32 deliveries, while Irfan Khan contributed an unbeaten 12 runs off 10 balls to secure the win.
Among the bowlers, Zaman Khan stood out for Lahore Qalandars, registering figures of 2/19, while Haris Rauf managed to grab a wicket conceding 22 runs in his allotted four overs.
Opting to bat first, Lahore Qalandars faced an early setback with the departure of Fakhar Zaman in the third over.
However, Sahibzada Farhan and Rassie van der Dussen steadied the innings with a 36-run partnership before van der Dussen fell victim to Tabraiz Shamsi’s delivery.
Despite Karachi Kings’ disciplined bowling, Farhan anchored the innings brilliantly, guiding Qalandars to a competitive total of 175 runs in their stipulated 20 overs.
Farhan remained unbeaten with a commanding 72 runs off 45 balls, while George Linde contributed a brisk 26 runs off 13 balls.
As Karachi Kings defeat Lahore Qalandars by two-wickets, in the bowling department, Hamza, Shamsi, and Hasan Ali shone for Karachi Kings, each claiming two wickets to restrict Lahore Qalandars’ innings.
