PSL 9: Karachi Kings defeat Lahore Qalandars by two-wickets

• Lahore Qalandars suffer fourth successive defeat in PSL 9.
• Mir Hamza’s inside edge put Kings across the finish line.
• Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik jointly accumulated 95 runs.

Karachi Kings Saturday inflicted a two-wicket defeat on Lahore Qalandars in a dramatic encounter held at the Gaddafi Stadium during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine.

Kings chased down the 176-run target on the last ball of the final over to hand Qalandars their fourth straight loss of the season.

11 runs were needed in the final over with Hasan Ali and Irfan Khan Niazi in the middle with spinner Ahsan Bhatti bowling the over for the Kings.

Hasan smacked six to reduce margin to five runs. The duo chipped in with singles and double but Haris Rauf's stunning catch gave Qalandars' hope.

Mir Hamza faced the final delivery with one needed of the final bowl. His inside edge put Kings across the finish line.

The Kings didn't have a great start to the chase, losing four wickets in the powerplay.

Kieron Pollard partnered with Shoaib Malik in the middle to build a partnership.

The pair accumulated 95 runs for the fifth wicket, with Pollard scoring 58 off 33 balls, including five sixes and a four. Malik anchored with 39 off 32 balls, while Irfan Khan remained not out on 12 off 10 balls.

Zaman Khan was the standout bowler for the Qalandars, claiming figures of 2/19, while Haris Rauf conceded 22 runs with one wicket in his four-over spell.

Earlier, Shan Masood opted to bat first, and Mir Hamza made a brilliant start with the ball, dismissing Fakhar Zaman (6) in the third over.

Sahibzada Farhan and Rassie van der Dussen (26) then formed a solid partnership of 36 runs from as many balls before Tabraiz Shamsi dismissed his South African teammate lbw while attempting a slog sweep.

Farhan held firm amidst economical bowling by Karachi Kings, reducing Lahore Qalandars to 90-4 within 13 overs.

Shai Hope played a quick cameo of 21 runs from 13 balls, featuring one six and two boundaries, before attempting to clear the boundary again, only to be caught by Shoaib Malik.

George Linde joined Farhan with the scoreboard at 121-6, and they turned things around with a quick 54-run partnership from 26 balls, lifting the team’s total to 175 in their allocated 20 overs.

Farhan carried his bat through the innings with an unbeaten 72 off 45, including four boundaries and as many sixes.

Meanwhile, Linde scored 26 runs at a strike rate of 200, with the help of three boundaries, including one six.

For Karachi Kings, Hamza, Shamsi, and Hasan Ali claimed two wickets each.