:In a nail-biting finish at their home ground, Karachi Kings edged out Peshawar Zalmi by two wickets in the final-over thriller, securing a crucial win in the ongoing tournament. A composed 60-run knock by David Warner and a brilliant all-round performance from Khushdil Shah proved decisive in chasing down a target of 149.
Warner Anchors the Chase
Chasing 149, Karachi’s innings began on shaky ground as Zalmi’s pace spearhead Luke Wood struck early, removing Tim Seifert with the very first delivery and following up with James Vince’s wicket soon after. Teenage fast bowler Ali Raza kept the pressure on by dismissing Saad Baig, as Kings struggled at the top.
However, David Warner stood firm, navigating the early storm with poise. He played a crucial anchor role, counter-attacking with support from Mohammad Nabi, who added a quick cameo to revive the run chase. Together, they accelerated the scoring during the middle overs, with Warner finding boundaries against Raza and Saim Ayub, while Nabi launched a six and a four to maintain momentum.
Khushdil & Hasan Seal the Deal in Dramatic Final Over
With Warner dismissed for a solid 60 off 47 balls by a clever slower ball from Wood, Kings stumbled late in the chase. Abbas Afridi and Aamer Jamal fell in quick succession, leaving Karachi needing nine runs off the final over with only two wickets in hand.
With Zalmi’s frontline bowlers exhausted, the responsibility fell to part-timer Hussain Talat. Under pressure, he faltered as Khushdil Shah and Hasan Ali held their nerve, each hitting a boundary to secure a memorable victory with just a ball to spare.
Khushdil Stars with the Ball Too
Earlier in the match, Khushdil made a significant impact with the ball as well, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 20. He dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Babar Azam, and later contributed to halting Zalmi’s momentum during a crucial middle-over spell.
Zalmi’s innings never quite took off after Saim Ayub fell early to Mir Hamza. Skipper Babar Azam, though gritty, struggled for fluency during his 46-run knock, which came off 41 balls. Despite a few reprieves, he couldn’t accelerate, and his dismissal marked a turning point.
Mohammad Haris showed some intent with a 21-ball 28, and Alzarri Joseph added late runs to lift Zalmi to 147 for 8, but it ultimately fell just short.
Summary:
- Karachi Kings 148/8 (Warner 60, Khushdil 23*, Wood 3-28)
- Peshawar Zalmi 147/8 (Babar 46, Khushdil 3-20, Afridi 3-30)
- Result: Karachi Kings won by 2 wickets
This win boosts Karachi Kings’ confidence as they edge closer to the playoffs, while Peshawar Zalmi will rue missed opportunities in a match that went down to the wire.