Malik’s Last-Ball Heroics Give Karachi Kings Thrilling PSL Victory
Karachi Kings Snatch Thrilling Victory Over Lahore Qalandars in PSL
In a nail-biting encounter at the National Stadium in Karachi, the Karachi Kings emerged victorious over the Lahore Qalandars by three wickets in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Saturday. The win keeps Karachi’s playoff hopes alive, while Lahore’s elimination was confirmed.
Chasing a challenging target of 178, Karachi’s openers James Vince (42) and Tim Seifert (36) provided a solid start with a 59-run partnership. However, Lahore fought back with the wickets of Kieron Pollard (3) and Seifert, who was run out due to a misunderstanding with Shoaib Malik.
Irfan Khan’s quickfire 35 off 16 balls kept Karachi in the hunt, but Shaheen Shah Afridi’s dismissal of Khan in the penultimate over left the Kings needing three runs off the final delivery.
With nerves jangling, Malik (27 not out) stepped up to the plate and drove Zaman Khan’s low full toss through point to seal a dramatic victory for Karachi.
Earlier, Lahore had posted a competitive 177-5 thanks to half-centuries from Abdullah Shafique (55) and Fakhar Zaman (54). Karachi captain Shan Masood’s decision to demote himself to No. 3 proved fruitful, as the opening pair of Vince and Seifert provided a solid foundation.