Babar Azam anchors 198-run chase with 74, backed by David Warner’s steady fifty.
Karachi Kings successfully chased 198 runs as Azam Khan and David Warner smashed rapid half-centuries in the 10th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing 198, the 2020 champions reached the target with five wickets down and four balls remaining, fueled by a pivotal 76-run third-wicket partnership between Azam and Warner.
The Kings began their chase on a shaky note, losing right-handed opener Muhammad Waseem in the third over with the score at 27.
After the early setback, Salman Ali Agha (29) joined skipper David Warner, and the pair batted sensibly to stabilize the chase, putting together a vital 43-run second-wicket partnership that ended with Agha’s dismissal in the ninth over.
Agha’s wicket brought Azam Khan to the crease at No. 5 ahead of experienced all-rounder Moeen Ali, a move that paid off for the 2020 champions. Alongside captain Warner, Azam forged a crucial partnership that propelled the Kings forward.
Although Daryl Mitchell dismissed Warner in the 16th over, Azam kept up the assault, taking the former champions within striking distance before being bowled out by Mohammad Amir in the penultimate over.
Azam Khan top-scored for Karachi Kings with a blazing 74 off 34 balls, including six fours and six sixes, while David Warner contributed a 36-ball 50, featuring six fours and a six.
Daryl Mitchell struck early in the final over, dismissing Moeen Ali (5), but Abbas Afridi smashed a six off the next ball to guide the Kings to their third consecutive PSL 11 victory.
Mitchell was the standout bowler for Rawalpindi Zalmi, claiming three wickets for 32 runs in 3.2 overs, while Naseem Shah and Mohammad Amir took one wicket each.
Kings captain Warner’s decision to field first backfired as the tournament debutants posted 197/6 in 20 overs, thanks to a massive fourth-wicket partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Sam Billings.
The Pindiz started shakily, losing captain Mohammad Rizwan (21) in the third over for just 28 runs on the board. Khushdil Shah struck twice more, removing Yasir Khan (8) and Kamran Ghulam (10), leaving the total at 55/3 in 6.1 overs.
Mitchell and Billings then turned the game with a 120-run fourth-wicket stand, both reaching half-centuries during the partnership. Hasan Ali eventually broke the stand in the 18th over by dismissing Billings, while Mitchell fell to Mir Hamza on the first ball of the penultimate over.
Mitchell finished as Rawalpindi Zalmi’s top-scorer with 65 off 41 balls, including five fours and three sixes, while Billings scored 58 off 35 balls, hitting eight fours and a six.
Abdullah Fazal contributed an unbeaten 17 off eight balls, featuring three boundaries, including two sixes, to maintain Pindiz’s momentum.
For the Kings, Hasan Ali led the bowling attack with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs, followed by Khushdil Shah with two, and Mir Hamza claiming one.
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