A high-octane display from Fakhar Zaman and Daryl Mitchell, followed by early strikes from Shaheen Shah Afridi and a crafty spell by Rishad Hossain, led Lahore Qalandars to a crushing 65-run win over Karachi Kings in Match 6 of the HBL PSL X at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday night.
Defending a formidable 202-run target, the Qalandars made quick inroads. Their captain Shaheen, with his signature first-over brilliance, sent back David Warner and James Vince — both for ducks — in a fiery new-ball spell that left Karachi stunned at 0 for 2.
Kings Crumble Under Pressure
The Kings never truly recovered. Despite brief resistance from Shan Masood (18) and Tim Seifert (18), both fell to Rishad Hossain, whose spell of 3 for 26 ensured Qalandars remained firmly in control.
With half the side back in the dugout for just 46 runs in eight overs, the chase became a lost cause. Only Khushdil Shah (39 off 27) and Hasan Ali (27 off 25) showed some fight, adding 48 runs for the eighth wicket, but it was too little, too late. The innings folded for 136 in 19.1 overs, with Sikandar Raza closing out the game by removing Adam Milne.
Fakhar and Mitchell Set the Stage Ablaze
Earlier, Qalandars’ innings had its share of early stumbles, but Fakhar Zaman (76 off 47) and Daryl Mitchell (75 off 41) launched a stunning counterattack. Their 125-run partnership off just 70 balls turned the momentum decisively in Qalandars’ favour.
Fakhar’s six fours and five towering sixes lit up the stadium, while Mitchell played a polished yet aggressive hand, stroking nine boundaries and clearing the fence twice.
Even Hasan Ali’s heroic spell of 4 for 28 couldn’t contain the Qalandars’ late flourish, as Sam Billings (19 off 10) and Sikandar Raza (10* off 5) powered the total past the psychological 200-mark.
Qalandars Climb the Table
With this win — their second of the season — Lahore now gains momentum and confidence heading deeper into the tournament. Karachi, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly after a bruising home loss.
Result: Lahore Qalandars beat Karachi Kings by 65 runs
Player of the Match: Fakhar Zaman
Next Fixture: Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans – Wednesday, Rawalpindi
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