In a match with all the makings of a game between franchises representing Pakistan’s two largest cities, Lahore Qalandars triumphed, beating Karachi Kings by six wickets in the final over to step into the top two of the PSL points table. Qalandars’ victory was the 11th in a row for chasing teams this season, with the side batting first still looking for a win in PSL 2021. It was an enthralling match with plenty of chirping, a slew of sixes, and an overabundance of entertainment, befitting a venue that now allows up to 50% fan attendance.
The Kings started the second innings on the back of three wickets in the Powerplay, but the Qalandars clawed their way back into the game with a 119-run fourth-wicket stand between Fakhar Zaman (83) and Ben Dunk (57). Kings had a chance when Zaman dropped, but David Wiese’s nine-ball cameo of 31 put an end to those dreams, securing a Qalandars victory with four balls to spare.
The Kings’ first-innings success, who reached 186 for 9, was eerily close to the chase. They, like the Qalandars, lost three wickets in the Powerplay before being lifted by half-centuries from Sharjeel Khan (64) and Mohammad Nabi (57). They could only add 24 runs in their final four overs when setting a total, which was the significant difference between the two teams in the end. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s accurate bowling was a significant reason. Kings scored at just six percent in the death overs. He finished with a three-for-twenty-seven score.