Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell Power Lahore Qalandars to Dominant 65-Run Victory Over Karachi Kings
Lahore Qalandars cruised to a commanding 65-run victory over Karachi Kings in the sixth match of the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Karachi Stadium on Tuesday. A clinical all-round performance, led by Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell, helped the Qalandars post a formidable total, which Karachi Kings failed to chase down.
Lahore Qalandars Set a Staggering Target of 202
Batting first, Lahore Qalandars piled up 201-6 in their allotted 20 overs. Fakhar Zaman was the star with a blistering 76 off 47 balls, while Daryl Mitchell supported him with a fiery 75 off 41 balls. The pair built a game-changing 125-run partnership that lifted Qalandars from a shaky start after losing two quick wickets.
Sam Billings chipped in with a quick-fire 19 from 10 balls, including two boundaries and a six, further boosting the total.
Despite a strong fightback from Karachi Kings’ bowlers, led by Hasan Ali (4-28), Lahore managed to set a challenging target. Abbas Afridi added one wicket to the tally with figures of 1-47.
Karachi Kings’ Chasing Struggles
In their chase of 202, Karachi Kings could only manage 136 runs, getting bowled out in 19.1 overs. Khushdil Shah top-scored for the Kings with a valiant 39 runs, while Hasan Ali (27) and Tim Seifert (18) were the other notable contributors.
The Qalandars’ disciplined bowling attack made light work of Karachi’s chase. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rishad Hossain were the key wicket-takers, each claiming three wickets. Sikandar Raza also had an impressive outing, bagging two wickets. Haris Rauf and Asif Afridi took one wicket each to complete the demolition of Karachi Kings.
Early Setbacks for Lahore
Lahore Qalandars faced an early setback when they lost two wickets in quick succession. Mohammad Naeem was dismissed for just 7 runs off 5 balls, and Abdullah Shafique followed soon after, scoring only 6 runs off 9 balls. However, Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell rescued the innings with their explosive partnership, leading Qalandars to a strong total.
Toss and Playing XI
The Lahore Qalandars won the toss and opted to bat first in this crucial encounter against Karachi Kings. The Qalandars were eager to break their losing streak against the Kings.
Playing XIs:
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wicketkeeper), Sikandar Raza, Shaheen Afridi (captain), Rishad Hossain, Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi, Zaman Khan
Karachi Kings: David Warner (captain), Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), James Vince, Shan Masood, Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Arafat Minhas, Abbas Afridi, Adam Milne, Hasan Ali, Fawad Ali
