Muhammad Irfan Khan’s blistering unbeaten 48 off just 21 balls propelled Karachi Kings to a crucial four-wicket victory over arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars in a rain-affected 15-over PSL 10 clash at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday night.

 By PakPassion Staff (May 5th, 2025)

Chasing a revised target of 167 (via the DLS method) in 15 overs, Kings reached the mark in 14.3 overs. Earlier, Qalandars posted 160/8 before rain interrupted play after 7.5 overs. The target was then adjusted to 167 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

Irfan, who registered his highest PSL score in his 25th appearance for the Kings across three seasons, walked in at 74/3 during the seventh over. He teamed up with Saad Baig (25 off 15, 3 fours, 1 six) to take the total past 100 in the 10th over.

After the dismissal of Khushdil Shah (9 off 7) in the 12th over, Mohammad Nabi (15 off 8, 1 four, 1 six) joined Irfan to add 45 rapid runs for the sixth wicket off just 17 balls. With 48 needed off the last three overs, Irfan took the attack to Shaheen Shah Afridi, smashing him for three sixes in a 21-run over.

He continued the assault in the following over by launching Haris Rauf for a six. Nabi then added a six and a four to take 20 off the over, leaving only 7 runs needed from the final over.

Daryl Mitchell, entrusted with the final over, dismissed Nabi on the first ball but couldn’t stop Irfan, who sealed the win with a towering six on the third delivery.

Karachi had earlier gotten off to a flying start with an aggressive 40-run stand between openers Tim Seifert (24 off 10, 1 six) and David Warner (24 off 13, 2 fours, 2 sixes) in just 3.1 overs. James Vince also chipped in with 13 off 12 as Kings ended the Powerplay at 68/2.

With this fifth win, Karachi Kings climbed to third place on the points table, tying with Islamabad United at 10 points each. Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators, with 11 points from eight matches, became the first team to book a spot in the playoffs.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, Qalandars openers Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman produced explosive half-centuries, putting on a 90-run stand in just 7.5 overs before rain interrupted play.

Naeem continued his rich form, hammering 65 off 29 balls (6 fours, 5 sixes) to register his second consecutive PSL half-century. Fakhar picked up where he left off post-rain, reaching his 22nd PSL fifty with a 33-ball 51 (4 fours, 3 sixes).

However, the Qalandars’ innings fell apart in the final overs, collapsing from 128/1 to 160/8, losing seven wickets for just 39 runs. Mohammad Abbas Afridi was the standout bowler, finishing with 4/27 in three overs, striking crucial blows in the 11th and 14th overs.