Irfan-inspired Karachi Kings edge out Lahore Qalandars in rain-curtailed nail-biter

LAHORE: Muhammad Irfan Khan’s explosive 48-run blitz propelled Karachi Kings to a thrilling four-wicket triumph over fierce rivals Lahore Qalandars in the 24th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a revised target of 168 in 15 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, the Kings crossed the finish line with six wickets down and three balls remaining.

The visitors launched their chase in emphatic fashion as skipper David Warner and Tim Seifert stitched together a rapid 40-run stand within the first three overs.

However, Haris Rauf halted their momentum immediately with his first delivery, clean bowling Warner for a 13-ball 24, which featured two fours and two sixes.

Seifert then added 17 runs alongside James Vince before falling to Asif Afridi in the fifth over. The New Zealand batter smashed 24 off just 10 balls, peppered with four boundaries and a six.

At number four, Saad Baig kept the scoreboard ticking with a brisk 25 off 15 balls, laced with three fours and a six, forging useful stands with Vince (13) and Irfan Khan before being dismissed by Daryl Mitchell.

The Kings suffered another setback when Rauf struck again to remove Khushdil Shah (nine), leaving them at 116/5 after 11.2 overs.

Needing 52 from 22 balls, Irfan Khan seized control with a fearless onslaught, hammering an unbeaten 48 from 21 deliveries, which included two fours and five towering sixes, steering the 2020 champions to a stunning victory. His match-turning 45-run partnership with Mohammad Nabi (15 off eight) proved decisive before Nabi fell to Mitchell at the start of the final over.

For Qalandars, Mitchell and Rauf picked up two wickets apiece, while Asif Afridi and Rishad Hossain claimed one each.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, Lahore Qalandars posted 160/8 in 15 overs, following an hour-long rain delay that shortened the game.

Their innings began with a flourish as Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman put on a blazing 90-run opening stand inside eight overs. Naeem, the primary aggressor, was eventually dismissed by Aamir Jamal, having struck a sensational 65 off 29 balls, peppered with six fours and five sixes. Jamal had earlier dropped Naeem on 11.

The rain interruption came soon after Naeem’s dismissal, pausing play for over an hour. When the match resumed, the Qalandars regained some momentum, with Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman adding 31 crucial runs before Abbas Afridi outfoxed Shafique (18 off 11, two fours, one six) with a clever slower ball.

Abbas struck again next ball, dismantling Daryl Mitchell’s stumps as he attempted a lap shot. Qalandars suffered another jolt in the following over, with Sam Billings falling to Mir Hamza for just two.

Fakhar Zaman, who anchored the innings, chipped in with a 33-ball 51, including four boundaries and three sixes, before Abbas Afridi removed both him and Sikandar Raza in the penultimate over.

Abbas was the standout bowler for Karachi Kings, finishing with 4/27 from three overs, well supported by Aamir Jamal and Mir Hamza, who took a wicket each.