- Fans can book tickets online at pcb.tcs.com.pk; Points table is available here
- The official nomenclature of the tournament is HBL PSL X; Media houses are advised to use the correct nomenclature in all texts, headlines and bulletins
Karachi, 21 April 2025: Karachi Kings overcame Peshawar Zalmi in a tense chase as they hunted the 148-run target with two wickets in the bag and three balls left, wrapping up the Karachi leg of the HBL PSL X with third victory of the season here at the National Bank Stadium on Monday night.
Khushdil Shah’s all-round heroics and David Warner’s composed half-century were the standout performances for Kings in a nervy finish.
Kings skipper Warner, who also completed his 13,000 T20 runs, produced a measured knock of 60 off 47 deliveries featuring eight boundaries. He stayed at the crease until the 17th over.
Karachi lost opening batter Tim Seifert for a golden duck as he fell prey to left-arm pacer Luke Wood. James Vince became the second victim of Wood’s sharp spell before Saad Baig stitched a 23-run stand with Warner, but was dismissed inside the powerplay for nine runs by teenage pace sensation Ali Raza.
Just as Kings began to rebuild with a 26-run stand for the fourth wicket, Mohammad Irfan Khan was run out attempting a second run with 68 on the board in 10.3 overs.
Warner was the sixth Kings batter to fall, castled by a slower delivery from Wood, but Khushdil kept the runs flowing from the other end, making an unbeaten 23 off 17 deliveries inclusive of three fours.
With nine needed in the final over and two wickets in hand, Kings avoided a narrow defeat thanks to two boundaries in three balls off Hussain Talat.
In the first half of the match, Zalmi posted 147-8 in the allotted 20 overs as skipper Babar Azam top-scored with 46 off 41 deliveries hitting seven fours.
Peshawar Zalmi lost Saim Ayub in third over to Mir Hamza and Tom Kohler-Cadmore to Khushdil Shah in seventh over as they slipped to 36-2. Babar was pinned leg-before against Khushdil as Zalmi notched 67 runs for three wickets at the halfway mark.
Mohammad Haris offered a brief spark, contributing 28 off 21 balls with four fours, but his dismissal in the 17th over triggered a slide that saw Zalmi lose momentum.
Kings maintained a tight grip through the middle overs, with Khushdil (3-0-20-3) and Mohammad Abbas Afridi (4-0-30-3) bowling disciplined and incisive spells sharing six wickets between them.
For Zalmi, a late flourish from No. 8 batter Alzarri Joseph provided some resistance, as he smashed an unbeaten 24 off just 13 balls including a six and a four to drag his team to a modest total.
Scores in brief:
Match 11: Karachi Kings beat Peshawar Zalmi by two wickets at National Bank Stadium, Karachi
Peshawar Zalmi 147-8, 20 overs (Babar Azam 46, Mohammad Haris 28, Alzarri Joseph 24 not out; Khushdil Shah 3-20, Mohammad Abbas Afridi 3-30)
Karachi Kings 148-8, 19.3 overs (David Warner 60, Khushdil Shah 23 not out; Luke Wood 3-28, Ali Raza 2-32)
Player of the match – Khushdil Shah (Karachi Kings)
Tuesday’s fixture: Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars at Multan Cricket Stadium; 8pm PKT
