Kings Secure Victory Against Qalandars in PSL 10 Clash

LAHORE: Karachi Kings, the 2020 champions, clinched a narrow four-wicket triumph against Lahore Qalandars in the 24th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

The Qalandars, batting first, posted a total of 160/8 in their allotted 20 overs, propelled by impressive half-centuries from their opening batsmen Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman.

Naeem was the highest scorer for the Qalandars, hitting 65 off 29 balls, which included six boundaries and five sixes, while Zaman contributed 51 from 33 deliveries, studded with four fours and three sixes.

Abbas Afridi stood out as the Kings’ most successful bowler, claiming four wickets for 27 runs in his three overs. Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, and Aamir Jamal each took one wicket to support him.

The Kings, chasing a revised target of 168 in 20 overs, achieved the required runs with four wickets remaining and three balls to spare, thanks to a remarkable innings by Muhammad Irfan Khan.

The right-handed batsman struck two fours and five sixes, scoring an unbeaten 48 off 21 balls.

Apart from him, David Warner and Tim Seifert, both scoring 24, Saad Baig (25), and Mohammad Nabi (15) made significant contributions.

This victory, the Kings’ fifth in the tournament, lifted them to third place in the standings, surpassing the Qalandars. They now have 10 points from eight matches, trailing Islamabad United in second place due to a lower net run rate.

Quetta Gladiators, the 2019 champions, remain at the top of the table with 11 points from eight matches and a net run rate of 0.906.

Peshawar Zalmi currently occupy the fifth position in the PSL 10 standings with six points from seven matches, while Multan Sultans are at the bottom with two points from eight games, having been eliminated from the playoffs.