Kings Secure Victory Over Qalandars in Rain-Affected Game

LAHORE: Following a tense, rain-interrupted PSL 10 showdown at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday night, Karachi Kings’ captain David Warner playfully teased Lahore Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Warner commended his team’s four-wicket triumph, but couldn’t resist commenting on Afridi’s assessment of the pitch before the game.

With a smile, the Australian opener remarked, “Shaheen anticipated spin, but we haven’t seen any in three games. His comments surprised me.”

In the shortened 15-over match, the Qalandars managed a total of 160/8, propelled by impressive half-centuries from openers Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman.

Naeem blasted 65 runs in 29 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes, while Fakhar scored 51 from 33 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes.

The Kings responded strongly, successfully achieving a revised target of 168 with three balls remaining. Irfan Khan Niazi emerged as the star, scoring an undefeated 48 from 21 balls, guiding his team to a thrilling victory.

Lahore, anticipating spin-friendly conditions, went with a primarily spin-based attack, but Warner maintained his pace-focused approach—which proved successful.

“I stood by my decision [to use pace]. You have to trust yourself. Our bowlers have been outstanding, consistently taking wickets, and currently, there’s not much opportunity for another spinner,” Warner stated.

Warner’s subtle jibe followed Afridi’s prediction that the pitch would favor spin—an expectation that didn’t materialize, especially after the rain impacted the field.

Despite the lighthearted exchange, Warner praised his team’s overall performance, particularly Irfan Khan’s match-winning innings.

“It was a fantastic win. First, I want to commend the bowlers for restricting them to 160,” Warner said. “And then, Irfan Khan Niazi delivered a brilliant performance. We’ve supported him, emphasized the need for passion and desire, and his performance today was the highlight.”

With successive victories boosting their momentum, the Karachi Kings are now focused on securing a top-two position.

“We achieved something extraordinary today,” Warner noted. “We have momentum on our side. Now, the objective is to carry this forward into Rawalpindi and finish strong.”

The Kings, under Warner’s leadership, currently hold the third spot on the PSL 10 points table, with five wins and three losses in eight matches, giving them 10 points.

They are scheduled to play Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United in their last group-stage games on May 8 and 10 in Rawalpindi.