KARACHI, Pakistan: Lahore Qalandars secured a commanding 65-run victory over Karachi Kings in their Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 clash at the National Bank Stadium Karachi on Tuesday, thanks to half-centuries from Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell and a disciplined bowling performance.
Opting to bat first, Lahore Qalandars posted a formidable total of 201 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs, despite an impressive bowling effort by Karachi Kings’s Hasan Ali, who claimed four wickets for just 28 runs.
The Lahore Qalandars had a shaky start, losing openers Mohammad Naeem (7) and Abdullah Shafique (6) early to Hasan.
With the score at 25 for 2 in the fourth over, Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell combined to rebuild the innings.
The pair stitched together a crucial 125-run stand, steering the innings towards a strong position.
Fakhar led the charge with a 47-ball 76, striking six fours and five sixes, before falling to Hasan in the 16th over.
Mitchell followed shortly after a 41-ball 75, which included nine boundaries and two sixes.
Sam Billings contributed a brisk 19 off 10, while late-order batters added useful runs to push Lahore past the 200-run mark.
Abbas Afridi claimed one wicket for the Kings.
In reply, Karachi Kings crumbled under pressure, managing just 136 runs in 19.1 overs.
Their chase began disastrously as captain Shaheen Shah Afridi struck twice in the opening over, removing both David Warner and James Vince for ducks.
The early blows rattled the Kings, who were soon reduced to 45 for 4 within seven overs.
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Shan Masood and Tim Seifert, both scoring 18, attempted to stabilise the innings but fell in quick succession.
The collapse continued as Karachi lost three more wickets within three overs, sliding to 50 for 7 before the halfway stage.
A brief resistance came from Khushdil Shah and Hasan Ali, who added 48 runs for the eighth wicket.
Hasan scored 27 off 25 balls, including two fours and two sixes, while Khushdil top-scored for the Kings with a valiant 39 off 27, hitting four fours and two sixes.
However, their efforts were not enough to avert a heavy defeat.
Shaheen Afridi and Rishad Hossain were the pick of the bowlers for Lahore, bagging three wickets apiece.
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Sikandar Raza claimed two, while Haris Rauf and Asif Afridi chipped in with one each.
The emphatic win snapped Lahore Qalandars’ five-match losing streak against Karachi Kings and solidified their position near the top of the PSL 10 table with four points from three matches.
Lahore Qalandars Playing XI
Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, Shaheen Afridi (c), Rishad Hossain, Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi and Zaman Khan.
Karachi Kings Playing XI
David Warner (c), Tim Seifert (wk), James Vince, Shan Masood, Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Arafat Minhas, Abbas Afridi, Adam Milne, Hassan Ali and Fawad Ali.
