LAHORE – Irfan Khan emerged as the unlikely hero, steering Karachi Kings to a thrilling four-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars in the 24th of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 at the jam-packed Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday night. Chasing a steep target of 168 in a rain-curtailed 15-over encounter, the Kings rode on Irfan’s blistering 48* off just 21 balls, laced with two boundaries and five towering sixes. Displaying remarkable composure and power-hitting prowess, Irfan took charge in the latter half of the chase and ensured Karachi crossed the line with three balls to spare.
He was ably supported by young Saad Baig, who chipped in with a valuable 25 off 15 balls, while openers David Warner (24 off 13) and Tim Seifert (24 off 10) provided a flying start. Lahore’s bowling attack, led by Haris Rauf (2-40) and Daryl Mitchell (2-9), struggled to contain the flow of runs on a flat batting surface. Spinner Rishad Hossain (1-28) and Asif Afridi (1-26) took a wicket each. Earlier, Qalandars had set a challenging target of 160-8 in their 15 overs, thanks to a dazzling opening partnership between Mohammad Naeem and veteran Fakhar Zaman. The duo blasted 90 runs in just 7.5 overs, laying a solid foundation for a big total. Naeem played a breathtaking innings of 65 off 29 balls, hammering six fours and five sixes. Fakhar complemented him with a fluent 51 off 33 balls, striking four boundaries and three maximums. However, Karachi Kings’ death-over specialist Abbas Afridi produced a match-turning spell, claiming 4-27. His scalps included key batters Abdullah Shafique (18), Daryl Mitchell (0), Sikandar Raza (8), and Fakhar.
The Qalandars’ middle-order woes resurfaced as they crumbled under pressure, managing just 70 runs in the last 7.1 overs. Sam Billings, Asif Ali, and skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi all departed for single digits, leaving the side well short of what once looked like a 180+ total. For Karachi, Mir Hamza (1-20) was the pick of the bowlers in terms of economy, while Aamer Jamal (1-33) and Hasan Ali (1-42) contributed with a wicket each despite being expensive. The victory not only keeps Karachi Kings alive in the playoff race but also highlights the emergence of Irfan Khan as a dependable middle-order finisher, a bright spot in their fluctuating campaign.
Scores in Brief
KARACHI KINGS 168/6 in 14.3 overs (Irfan Khan 48*, Saad Baig 25, David Warner 24; Haris Rauf 2-40, Daryl Mitchell 2-9) beat LAHORE QALANDARS 160/8 in 15 overs (M Naeem 65, Fakhar Zaman 51; Abbas Afridi 4-27) by 4 wickets.
