Kings edge Qalandars in a dramatic way

By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Karachi Kings held their nerve in a low-scoring thriller to beat Lahore Qalandars by four wickets with three balls to spare in the HBL PSL 11 game on Sunday, overcoming a spirited four-wicket haul from Shaheen Shah Afridi at Gaddafi Stadium.
Set to score 129, Kings required nine from the final over from Haris Rauf. Haris removed Khushdil off his first delivery and then bowled a wide to Abbas Afridi. Abbas then hit a four and a six off the next two balls to enable his side chase the target.
Chasing a modest total Kings stumbled early but were carried by a measured 38 from Muhammad Waseem and a late cameo from Abbas Afridi, whose explosive unbeaten ten off two balls sealed victory in dramatic fashion.
The chase began shakily as captain David Warner fell for eight, edging Shaheen Afridi, who struck again two balls later to remove Salman Agha for a duck, leaving Kings reeling at 10-2 inside three overs. Shaheen’s new-ball spell was electric, generating pace and movement and he returned later to finish with 4-18, the standout performance of the night despite ending on the losing side.
Waseem steadied the innings with a composed knock, striking three fours and a six while building partnerships to keep the required rate under control. He added 29 runs with Saad Baig, who contributed 19 with three boundaries, nudging the score to 39 before Mustafizur Rahman broke the stand.
Moeen Ali’s 18 added further stability, though Afridi returned to dismiss both Waseem and Moeen in quick succession, reducing Kings to 88-5 in the 15th over and bringing the contest back into balance.
With pressure mounting, Azam Khan anchored the final phase with a calm unbeaten 14 while Khushdil Shah chipped in with 13. The equation tightened to nine needed off the final over after Khushdil’s dismissal at 120-6.
But Abbas Afridi ended the contest in emphatic fashion, smashing a boundary and a six in consecutive deliveries to finish the game at 131-6 in 19.3 overs.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars struggled to build momentum after opting to bat first, eventually posting 128-9, a total that looked below par on a good batting surface.
Abdullah Shafique top-scored with a fluent 33 off 24 balls, striking four boundaries and a six while Haseebullah Khan laboured for 28 off 30 deliveries. Their 28-run third-wicket stand was the only meaningful partnership in an otherwise stuttering innings.
The Qalandars lost Fakhar Zaman in the first over for just one, and Mohammad Naeem followed soon after, as Mir Hamza and Adam Zampa applied early pressure. Zampa was particularly impressive, picking up 2-11 in four overs, including a maiden and conceding just two boundaries.
Parvez Hossain Emon and Sikandar Raza both got starts but failed to convert, each falling after brief contributions. Raza’s 19 included a boundary and a six but his dismissal at 105-5 in the 15th over halted any late acceleration.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi briefly lifted the scoring rate with seven off four balls, including a six, but the innings fizzled out as Lahore lost four wickets for just 20 runs in the final five overs.
Mir Hamza (2-14) and Adam Zampa led a disciplined Kings bowling attack, well supported by Moeen Ali and Hasan Ali, who kept the pressure on through tight lines and clever variations.
In the end, Lahore’s inability to capitalize on starts and build partnerships proved costly as Karachi’s depth and composure in the chase secured them two valuable points. This was the second win for Kings which helped them to move to the summit with four points. Qalandars tasted their first defeat from two games.
Interestingly a real drama occured when
Lahore Qalandars were hit with a five-run penalty for altering the condition of the ball in a dramatic late twist that helped Karachi Kings clinch a tense victory.
The incident occurred at the end of the 19th over of Karachi’s chase, with the Kings needing 14 runs from the final over. Fast bowler Haris Rauf was set to deliver the last over when Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rauf and Fakhar Zaman gathered near the bowler’s mark and handled the ball.
On-field umpire Faisal Afridi, who appeared to be closely observing the exchange, called for the ball and conducted an inspection. After consulting with square-leg umpire Sharfuddoula, the officials ruled that the ball’s condition had been deliberately changed.
As a result, five penalty runs were awarded to Karachi Kings, reducing the target to nine runs from the final over. The ball was also replaced immediately.
The decision sparked visible frustration from Afridi, who reacted angrily on the field as the match slipped away from Lahore Qalandars.
Monday will be the rest day while on Tuesday Islamabad United will meet Peshawar Zalmi at the same venue at 7pm.

Summarised scores:

Lahore Qalandars 128-9 (20 overs)

Abdullah Shafique 33 (24), Haseebullah Khan 28 (30), Sikandar Raza 19 (21)
Adam Zampa 2-11 (4), Mir Hamza 2-14 (3), Moeen Ali 2-31 (4)

Karachi Kings 131-6 (19.3 overs)
Muhammad Waseem 38 (37), Saad Baig 19 (21), Moeen Ali 18 (21)
Shaheen Shah Afridi 4/18 (4), Mustafizur Rahman 1/20 (4)

Result: Karachi Kings won by four wickets (with 3 balls remaining
Man of the match: Adam Zampa (2-11 in 4 overs)