Qalandars Secure 65-Run Victory After Fakhar and Mitchell Lead Strong Batting Display
Match Summary:
- Lahore Qalandars: 201/6 (Fakhar Zaman 76, Daryl Mitchell 75, Hasan Ali 4-28)
- Karachi Kings: 136 all out (Khushdil Shah 39, Rishad Hossain 3-26, Shaheen Afridi 3-34)
- Result: Lahore Qalandars won by 65 runs
Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell Power Qalandars to Massive Total
The high-voltage PSL showdown between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, often dubbed the “El Clasico of the PSL,” ended in a one-sided affair as Lahore crushed Karachi by a commanding 65 runs. The victory was anchored by a brilliant 125-run third-wicket partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell, laying the foundation for a daunting total of 201.
After winning the toss, Qalandars opted to bat first. Despite early setbacks with Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Naeem falling within the powerplay, Fakhar and Mitchell’s calculated aggression steered Lahore to 150/2 by the 15th over. Fakhar, who was dropped in the opening over by James Vince, capitalized on the reprieve with a flurry of boundaries, particularly punishing Khushdil Shah with three sixes in one over.
Mitchell complemented Fakhar perfectly, attacking Abbas Afridi with precision in the middle overs. Finishing touches were added by Sam Billings (19 off 10) and Sikandar Raza, propelling Lahore Qalandars beyond the 200-run mark.
Hasan Ali was the standout bowler for Karachi Kings, claiming 4 wickets for 28 runs. Adam Milne showed improvement from his previous outing but failed to pick up any wickets.
Shaheen Afridi and Rishad Hossain Tear Through Karachi’s Batting Line-up
In response, Karachi Kings—despite having explosive batters like David Warner, Tim Seifert, and James Vince—crumbled under pressure. Shaheen Shah Afridi struck early, removing Warner with his second delivery and Vince just two balls later, setting the tone for Lahore’s dominance.
The top-order collapse left Karachi reeling, and they never recovered. Shan Masood and Seifert tried to stabilize the innings, but the run rate climbed steadily. Seifert’s attempted reverse sweep backfired in the seventh over, and Masood fell similarly in the next over to Rishad Hossain, who proved lethal with figures of 3 for 26.
From there, the game turned into a formality as wickets continued to tumble. Despite a valiant 39 from Khushdil Shah, Kings were bowled out for 136, handing Lahore Qalandars a comfortable 65-run win.
Key Takeaways from the Match
- Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell formed one of the strongest partnerships in PSL 2025 so far.
- Shaheen Afridi‘s fiery opening spell dismantled Karachi’s hopes early on.
- Rishad Hossain continues to impress with his clever variations and control.
- Lahore Qalandars showcased a complete performance, excelling with both bat and ball.
What’s Next?
Lahore Qalandars will look to carry this momentum forward as they eye the top of the PSL 2025 points table, while Karachi Kings must regroup quickly to stay in playoff contention.