LAHORE, Pakistan: Karachi Kings smashed Lahore Qalandars by four wickets in the 24th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.
Chasing a revised 168-run target in 15 overs as per the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, the Kings knocked the winning runs for the loss of six wickets and three balls to spare.
The visitors began their innings in explosive fashion, with skipper David Warner and Tim Seifert stitching together a rapid 40-run opening stand in just three overs.
However, Haris Rauf halted their momentum by striking with the very first ball of his spell, clean bowling Warner for a quick 24 off 13 deliveries, which included two fours and two sixes.
Seifert then added 17 runs with James Vince before falling to Asif Afridi in the fifth over. The New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter made a lively 24 from just 10 balls, smashing four boundaries and a six.
At number four, Saad Baig kept the chase alive with a spirited 25-run cameo off 15 balls, featuring three fours and a six. He built crucial partnerships with Vince (13) and Mohammad Irfan Khan before being dismissed by Daryl Mitchell.
The Kings’ hopes took another hit when Rauf returned to remove Khushdil Shah for nine, reducing them to 116 for 5 in 11.2 overs. Irfan Niazi played an outstanding unbeaten knock of 48 off just 21 balls.
He shared a match-winning 45-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Nabi, who chipped in with a quickfire 15 off 8 balls before falling to Mitchell on the first delivery of the final over.
For the Qalandars, Mitchell and Haris Rauf claimed two wickets each, while Asif Afridi and Rishad Hossain picked up one apiece.
Earlier, Karachi Kings won the toss and decided to bowl first in the game, which was reduced to 15 overs each side due to rain.
PLAYING XIs
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, Asif Ali, Rishad Hossain, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf and Asif Afridi.
Karachi Kings: David Warner (c), Tim Seifert, James Vince, Saad Baig, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali and Mir Hamza.
