LAHORE: In a high-voltage encounter of PSL 11, Karachi Kings defeated Lahore Qalandars by 4 wickets in a closely contested match played in Lahore.
Chasing a modest target of 129 runs, Karachi Kings successfully achieved the target in the final over, losing 6 wickets along the way. The team delivered a balanced performance, with bowlers setting up the victory and batters finishing the job under pressure.
All-rounder Abbas Afridi played a key role in the closing moments, scoring 10 runs off just two deliveries. In the final over, he struck a boundary and a six off Haris Rauf to seal the win for his side.
This marks Karachi Kings’ second consecutive victory in the tournament.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi won the toss and opted to bat first. However, Karachi’s bowlers maintained tight control from the outset, putting the opposition under consistent pressure and preventing any significant partnerships.
Experienced spinner Moeen Ali dismissed Fakhar Zaman in the very first over, setting the tone for the innings. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, with Abdullah Shafique offering some resistance with a top score of 33 runs. Other batters failed to provide meaningful support.
Sikandar Raza scored 19, opener Muhammad Naeem made 13, Pervez Hussain 12, Shaheen Afridi 7, and Usama Mir contributed 1 run. Lahore Qalandars were eventually restricted to 128 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.
For Karachi Kings, Moeen Ali, Mir Hamza, and Adam Zampa claimed two wickets each, while Hasan Ali, Salman Agha, and Abbas Afridi took one wicket apiece.
After the match, Shaheen Afridi noted that Usama Mir was included in place of Asif Afridi and expressed the team’s intent to post a competitive total of 170 to 180 runs in future matches.
