Lahore, 29 March 2026: Karachi Kings produced a composed all-round performance to secure a thrilling four-wicket victory over defending champions Lahore Qalandars in a low-scoring encounter of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 129 on a challenging surface, the Kings overcame early setbacks to reach 131-6 with three balls to spare.
The run chase got off to a shaky start as captain David Warner (8) and Salman Ali Agha (0) were both dismissed in the third over by Lahore skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, reducing Karachi to 10-2.
Muhammad Waseem then played a crucial anchoring role, scoring a steady 38 off 37 deliveries. He stitched together partnerships of 29 with Saad Baig (19) and 43 with Moeen Ali (18) to bring stability back into the innings.
Just when Karachi appeared to be gaining control, Afridi returned to strike again, removing both Waseem and Moeen in the 15th over to leave the Kings under pressure at 88-5.
With the game hanging in the balance, Khushdil Shah and Azam Khan added a vital 32-run partnership, bringing the equation down to 14 required off the final over.
In a dramatic moment, a five-run penalty was awarded to Karachi after the umpires ruled that the ball had been altered, reducing the target to nine off six deliveries.
Haris Rauf struck on the first ball of the final over to dismiss Khushdil, but Abbas Afridi held his nerve, smashing a boundary and a six in the next two deliveries to seal a memorable victory for the Kings.
Earlier, Karachi Kings’ bowlers laid the foundation with a disciplined effort to restrict Lahore Qalandars to 128-9 in their 20 overs.
Moeen Ali provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Fakhar Zaman (1) in the opening over. Abdullah Shafique top-scored with a composed 33, sharing brief partnerships with Mohammad Naeem (13) and Parvez Hossain Emon (12).
A 43-run stand between Haseebullah Khan (28) and Sikandar Raza (19) offered some resistance, but regular wickets ensured Lahore never built sustained momentum.
For Karachi Kings, Adam Zampa, Mir Hamza and Moeen Ali claimed two wickets each, while Hasan Ali, Salman Ali Agha and Abbas Afridi chipped in with one apiece.