Blistering knocks from Abdullah Shafique (65 off 35) and Fakhar Zaman (47 off 28) helped Lahore Qalandars successfully chase down a target of 191 with six wickets in hand against Karachi Kings in Eliminator 1 of HBL PSL X, held at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Thursday night.

By PakPassion Staff (May 23rd. 2025)

With this victory, Lahore Qalandars advanced to Eliminator 2, where they will face Islamabad United on Friday, 23 May, at the same venue. Meanwhile, Karachi Kings' campaign ends, finishing the season with six wins and five losses. The winner of Eliminator 2 will meet Quetta Gladiators in the final on 25 May.

Chasing 191, Qalandars got off to a strong start as Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem (14 off 12, 1 four, 1 six) added 42 runs for the opening wicket before Naeem was dismissed by Hasan Ali. Fakhar played a fiery knock, smashing five fours and three sixes in his 28-ball stay, laying the platform for what would be Qalandars’ joint second-highest successful chase in PSL history.

Abdullah, who came in during the 5th over, built a 33-run partnership with Fakhar and then launched an aggressive counterattack alongside Kusal Perera (30 off 24, 1 four, 1 six). At the halfway mark, Qalandars were 89 for 2, needing 10.20 runs an over.

The Abdullah-Perera duo added 67 runs in the next five overs, putting Karachi on the back foot. Their blazing 83-run stand was eventually broken by Hasan Ali. Abdullah, who smashed three fours and five sixes to bring up his eighth PSL half-century, was dismissed in the 16th over thanks to a brilliant catch by James Vince.

Qalandars sealed the chase with eight balls to spare, as Bhanuka Rajapaksa finished the game in style, scoring a rapid 23* off just 12 balls, including two boundaries and a six—the winning shot. Hasan Ali picked up two wickets for Karachi, while Fawad Ali and Mir Hamza claimed one each.

Earlier, Karachi Kings posted 190 for 8 after electing to bat first, powered by David Warner’s explosive 75 off 52 balls. Khushdil Shah was the next best contributor with an unbeaten 27 off just 14 balls.

Kings began strongly with Warner and Tim Seifert adding 43 runs in 24 balls before Seifert was dismissed for 16 by Shaheen Afridi. James Vince managed just 4 before falling to Shakib Al Hasan as Karachi reached 74 for 2 by the seventh over.

Despite Warner holding one end, wickets fell at regular intervals. Saad Baig (11) and Irfan Khan (18) were dismissed in quick succession, and Mohammad Naeem eventually removed Warner in the 16th over. His 75 included eight boundaries and three sixes.

Karachi added 50 runs in the final five overs, thanks to a quick cameo from Khushdil (3 fours, 2 sixes) and Mohammad Nabi’s 18 off 12 balls.

For Qalandars, Haris Rauf led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 35, while Shaheen Afridi chipped in with two wickets.