Warner, Hendricks fire as Kings chase 196

Karachi Kings kept their PSL 2026 campaign alive with a second successive successful chase, as Warner, Hendricks led them to a four-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators. The pair put together an unbroken 141-run stand to overhaul 196 with authority.

Karachi finished on 199 for 1, with David Warner unbeaten on 89 and Reeza Hendricks on 87 not out. Their effort also ended Quetta Gladiators’ campaign, with last year’s finalists finishing with just three wins from ten matches.

Early strikes and Gladiators’ recovery

Inserted to bat, Quetta Gladiators suffered an immediate setback as Hasan Ali dismissed Shamyl Hussain and Khawaja Nafay for ducks in the first over.

However, Rilee Rossouw and Saud Shakeel launched a counterattack that quickly shifted momentum. Shakeel began aggressively, taking on Rizwanullah before scoring heavily off Hasan Ali and Moeen Ali as the Gladiators reached 58 in the powerplay.

Rossouw then took control, bringing up his half-century off 33 balls and accelerating further with a sequence of boundaries. The pair added a substantial stand that pushed Quetta towards a dominant position.

Momentum slips despite strong platform

Saud Shakeel fell for 57 off 34 balls, and Rossouw followed soon after for 90, ten runs short of a century. Those dismissals stalled the innings at a crucial stage.

Although Dinesh Chandimal provided a late cameo, Quetta Gladiators finished on 195 for 6 — a total that looked slightly below par considering their earlier dominance.

Warner, Hendricks dominate the chase

Karachi Kings’ reply began steadily before Warner lifted the tempo towards the end of the powerplay, helping his side add 41 runs in the last three overs of that phase.

Reeza Hendricks, who had struggled for fluency earlier in the season, produced a defining innings when it mattered most. After playing a supporting role initially, he shifted gears decisively as the chase progressed.

The defining phase came when the pair neutralised the Gladiators’ spin options. Warner set the tone against Usman Tariq, while Hendricks later dismantled Alzarri Joseph in the 17th over, striking three sixes and a boundary in an over worth 24 runs.

That burst reduced the equation to just 10 needed from the final three overs. Hendricks sealed the chase in style with a controlled pick-up drive over mid-off.

What this result means

The unbeaten 141-run partnership between Warner and Hendricks completely defined the contest, turning a competitive chase into a controlled finish. Their ability to accelerate without losing wickets ensured Karachi Kings remained in contention.

For Quetta Gladiators, the defeat confirmed their elimination, with their strong start with the bat ultimately undone by the inability to maintain momentum and break a crucial partnership.

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