Lahore (SBR); Mohammad Irfan Khan’s blistering knock of 48 off 21 balls catapulted Karachi Kings to a much-needed four-wicket triumph over arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars in a rain-hit 15-over game here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday night.
Kings chased the 168-run target in 14.3 overs. Earlier, Qalandars’ 160-8 in 15 overs was revised to 167 based on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, when rain had arrived after 7.5 overs were bowled in their innings.
Irfan Khan (48 not out, 21b, 2x4s, 5x6s), who smashed his highest HBL PSL score in 25th game for the Kings across three seasons, walked in to bat at 74-3 in the seventh over and partnered with Saad Baig (25, 15b, 3x4s, 1x6) to take the team to 100-run mark in the 10th over.
After Khushdil Shah departed for a seven-ball nine in the 12th over, Mohammad Nabi (15, 18b, 1x4, 1x6) joined Irfan in the middle as the duo blazed on their way to gathering 45 runs for the sixth wicket off a mere 17 balls. With the required rate exactly 16 after 12 overs, Irfan launched Shaheen Shah Afridi for three massive sixes consigning him to a 21-run over.
On the first ball of next over, Irfan powered Haris Rauf for a six, while Nabi too joined him in the charge with a six and a four to take 20 runs off the over, bringing the equation down to seven needed off six balls.
Daryl Mitchell, bowling his second over of the game, removed Nabi on the first ball, conceded a single on the second and then got hit for a match-sealing six off Irfan.
Kings were helped to a swift start with a rapid 40-run opening stand from their opening batters Tim Seifert (24, 10b, 1x6) and David Warner (24, 13b, 2x4s, 2x6s) in 3.1 overs, while no.3 batter James Vince chipped in with 12-ball 13 as they finished the Powerplay with 68-2 on the board.
With the fifth win in the tournament, Kings jumped to the third position on the table drawing level with Islamabad United with 10 points each to their name, while table toppers Quetta Gladiators, with 11 points in eight games, have become the first team to qualify for the playoffs.
Earlier, Qalandars were asked to bat first and their opening batters Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman struck fiery half-centuries on either side of the rain break, while also stitching a prolific 90-run stand in 7.5 overs.
Naeem, who scored his second consecutive HBL PSL half-century, struck six fours and five sixes in his 29-ball 65-run knock. With Qalandars, 90-1, when the play resumed, Fakhar blitzed his way to a 22nd HBL PSL half-century striking four fours and three sixes as he notched 51 off 33 balls.
In the last 7.1 overs of innings, Qalandars lost their last seven wickets for 39 runs as Mohammad Abbas Afridi struck twice in 11th and 14th overs to return figures of 3-0-27-4.
Scores in brief
Match 24: Karachi Kings beat Lahore Qalandars by four wickets (DLS) at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Lahore Qalandars 160-8, 15 overs (Mohammad Naeem 65, Fakhar Zaman 51; Mohammad Abbas Afridi 4-27)
Karachi Kings 168-6, 14.3 overs (Mohammad Irfan Khan 48 not out, Saad Baig 25, Tim Seifert 24, David Warner 24, Mohammad Nabi 15; Daryl Mitchell 2-9, Haris Rauf 2-40)
Player of the match – Mohammad Irfan Khan (Karachi Kings)
Monday’s fixture: Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi at Multan Cricket Stadium; 8pm PKT
