In a gripping clash in Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi, David Warner and Khushdil Shah guided Kings to a dramatic two-wicket win, chasing 148 with just three balls to spare. The victory marked Karachi’s third win of the HBL PSL X season, closing out the Karachi leg of the tournament at National Bank Stadium on Monday night.
Warner Leads the Charge
Karachi skipper David Warner played a pivotal role, anchoring the innings with a calm and composed 60 off 47 balls. His knock included eight boundaries and took him past 13,000 runs in T20 cricket. Despite losing partners at regular intervals, Warner held firm until the 17th over, providing stability to a shaky chase.
His efforts became even more vital after Karachi suffered early setbacks. Tim Seifert departed on the very first ball, caught off Luke Wood’s sharp delivery. James Vince followed soon, also falling to Wood’s fierce pace. Saad Baig added a brief stand of 23 with Warner before being dismissed for nine by Ali Raza.
Middle-Order Stumbles but Khushdil Holds On
As the middle order crumbled under pressure, Mohammad Irfan Khan’s run-out in the 11th over left Karachi at 68-4. Warner’s dismissal as the sixth batter brought added tension, but Khushdil Shah held his nerve. The left-hander played a crucial unbeaten knock of 23 from 17 balls, hitting three boundaries to keep Kings in the hunt.
With nine runs required from the final over and only two wickets in hand, Khushdil struck two boundaries in three balls off Hussain Talat, sealing a dramatic win for the Kings.
Read:Â PSL 10: Islamabad United Dominate Karachi Kings to Stay Unbeaten
Zalmi’s Batting Falters After Steady Start
Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi managed 147-8 in their 20 overs. Captain Babar Azam top-scored with 46 from 41 deliveries, lacing his innings with seven boundaries. However, Zalmi never fully gained momentum after early blows.
Saim Ayub fell in the third over to Mir Hamza, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore was removed by Khushdil in the seventh. Babar’s dismissal—leg-before to Khushdil—left Zalmi at 67-3 at the halfway mark.
Mohammad Haris attempted to lift the pace with a lively 28 from 21 balls but was dismissed in the 17th over, triggering a collapse. From there, the middle and lower order struggled to accelerate.
Bowling Heroes: Khushdil and Afridi Strike Hard
Khushdil’s all-round performance was the highlight of the match. With the ball, he claimed 3 wickets for just 20 runs in his three overs. Mohammad Abbas Afridi supported him well, finishing with figures of 3-30 in four disciplined overs. Together, they dismantled Zalmi’s batting lineup and restricted them to a below-par total.
Alzarri Joseph provided late resistance for Zalmi with a quick-fire 24* off 13 balls, smashing a six and a four. His efforts ensured that Zalmi had something to defend, but it wasn’t enough against Warner and Khushdil’s brilliance.
Brief Scores:
Peshawar Zalmi: 147-8 (Babar Azam 46, Haris 28, Joseph 24*; Khushdil 3-20, Afridi 3-30)
Karachi Kings: 148-8 in 19.3 overs (Warner 60, Khushdil 23*; Wood 3-28, Ali Raza 2-32)
Player of the Match: Khushdil Shah
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