Kings successfully chased a target of 198 with four balls to spare at Gaddafi Stadium
KARACHI: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-April 3rd, 2026) Karachi Kings produced a strong all-round performance to beat Rawalpindi by five wickets in the 10th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, successfully chasing a target of 198 with four balls to spare.
The chase was anchored by captain David Warner and wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan, who shared a vital 76-run stand for the third wicket. Azam emerged as the standout performer, scoring a rapid 74 off 34 balls, while Warner contributed a fluent 50 from 36 deliveries. Their partnership stabilized the innings after early setbacks and kept the required rate under control.
Karachi Kings began their pursuit on a shaky note, losing opener Muhammad Waseem early with the score at 27. Salman Ali Agha then joined Warner, and the pair added 43 runs for the second wicket before Agha was dismissed after scoring 29. Azam’s promotion to the middle order proved decisive as he and Warner rebuilt the innings with aggressive yet calculated stroke play.
Warner was dismissed in the 16th over, but Azam continued to dominate the bowling attack, bringing the Kings close to victory before falling in the penultimate over. A brief scare followed when Moeen Ali was dismissed early in the final over, but Abbas Afridi sealed the win with a boundary, guiding Karachi Kings to their third consecutive victory in the tournament.
For Rawalpindi, Daryl Mitchell led the bowling effort with figures of 3 for 32, while Naseem Shah and Mohammad Amir claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, Rawalpindi posted 197 for 6 after being put into bat. Their innings recovered from early damage through a commanding 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Daryl Mitchell and Sam Billings. The side had struggled initially, losing captain Mohammad Rizwan early and slipping to 55 for 3 before the partnership shifted momentum.
Mitchell top-scored for Rawalpindi with 65 off 41 balls, while Billings contributed a brisk 58 off 35 deliveries. Late contributions helped push the total close to 200, but the effort ultimately fell short.
Among the Karachi bowlers, Hasan Ali stood out with figures of 3 for 24, while Khushdil Shah took two wickets and Mir Hamza added one.
Despite Rawalpindi’s competitive total, Karachi Kings’ disciplined chase and key partnerships ensured they secured a convincing victory in a closely contested encounter.
Playing XIs:
Rawalpindiz XI: Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk), Yasir Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Abdullah Fazal, Cole McConchie, Rishad Hossain, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Amir Khan
Karachi Kings XI: David Warner (capt), Muhammad Waseem, Salman Agha, Saad Baig, Moeen Ali, Khushdil Shah, Azam Khan (wk), Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Adam Zampa, Mir Hamza
