PSL 11: Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars thriller
Match 6 of PSL 11 between Karachi Kings & Lahore Qalandars produced a tense low-scoring finish as Karachi Kings chased down 129 to secure a four-wicket win in dramatic fashion.
The match turned on a crucial penalty decision, where Lahore Qalandars were docked five runs for altering the condition of the ball, reducing the final over equation from 14 off six to nine off six.
Penalty shifts momentum in final over
Karachi Kings needed 14 runs from the final over when the umpires intervened and awarded five penalty runs against Lahore Qalandars for ball tampering. The batters were also allowed to choose a replacement ball.
This proved decisive. Despite Khushdil Shah falling on the first ball of the over, Haris Rauf followed up with a wide before Abbas Afridi struck a boundary and a six on consecutive deliveries to seal the win.
Shaheen Afridi leads with the ball
Shaheen Afridi delivered a standout spell on a difficult two-paced surface, finishing with remarkable figures of 4 for 18 in four overs.
He struck early blows, dismissing David Warner and Salman Agha in quick succession during the third over. Alongside Ubaid Shah, who bowled a maiden, Afridi helped restrict Karachi Kings to 18 for 2 in the first five overs.
Despite his efforts, the pitch conditions made chasing tricky, with inconsistent bounce and variable pace throughout the innings.
Waseem anchors chase under pressure
Muhammad Waseem played a crucial role in Karachi Kings’ chase with a composed 38 at the top of the order.
He counterattacked in the 13th over, hitting Haris Rauf for a four and a six, which proved to be the most expensive over of the match. His partnership of 43 runs with Moeen Ali helped bring the required rate down significantly.
Afridi returned to remove both Waseem and Moeen in the 15th over, adding further drama to the contest. However, Khushdil Shah and Azam Khan steadied the innings with a 32-run stand to take the game deep.
Qalandars collapse after solid start
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars posted 128 for 9 after showing promise in patches.
Despite early wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique’s 33 off 24 balls guided them to 42 for 2 in the powerplay. A 43-run partnership between Sikandar Raza and Haseebullah Khan kept them on track for a competitive total.
Haseebullah accelerated with a four and a six in a 15-run over, but the innings unraveled quickly. The dismissals of Raza and Shaheen Afridi triggered a collapse, with Qalandars losing their final five wickets for just 20 runs.
What this means
The result highlights how fine margins can decide T20 matches, with the penalty playing a pivotal role in the outcome.
For Karachi Kings, the win maintains their strong start to the season, while Lahore Qalandars will reflect on missed opportunities despite a dominant bowling performance from Shaheen Afridi.
Also check out:
Quetta Gladiators vs Hyderabad Kingsmen PSL 11 Match Result
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