Karachi (Web Desk): Lahore Qalandars set a target of 202 runs for Karachi Kings in the 6th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 being played at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.
Electing to bat first, Lahore’s innings had a rocky start but was eventually lifted by the in-form Fakhar Zaman and New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, who played pivotal roles in steering the side to a competitive total.
Early breakthroughs by Hasan Ali placed Karachi in a dominant position, as he removed Mohammad Naeem and Abdullah Shafique cheaply, leaving Lahore struggling at 25 for 2 inside the fourth over.
However, the pressure was soon countered by a composed and aggressive partnership between Fakhar and Mitchell. The pair gradually shifted the momentum, keeping the scoreboard ticking while finding boundaries at regular intervals.
Fakhar played with a blend of flair and control, racking up 76 runs off 47 balls, including six boundaries and five maximums, before Hasan returned to dismiss him and break the crucial stand.
Mitchell, unfazed by the fall of his partner, continued the charge, eventually scoring 75 from just 41 deliveries. His innings featured a flurry of elegant strokes—nine fours and a couple of sixes—that pushed the Qalandars closer to the 200-run mark.
Though Sam Billings chipped in briefly with a quick 19 off 10 balls, he too was sent back by Hasan, who was clearly the standout performer with the ball. He ended with remarkable figures of 4 for 28, offering Karachi a fighting chance in the contest. Abbas Afridi also managed to pick up a wicket, dismissing Mitchell just as he threatened to take the game further away.
Despite the setbacks and some quality bowling from the Kings, Lahore managed to post a daunting 201 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. With the pitch offering decent bounce and carry, Karachi’s batting lineup will need to fire on all cylinders if they hope to chase down the target.
Teams
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, Shaheen Afridi (c), Rishad Hossain, Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi and Zaman Khan.
Karachi Kings: David Warner (c), Tim Seifert (wk), James Vince, Shan Masood, Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Arafat Minhas, Abbas Afridi, Adam Milne, Hassan Ali and Fawad Ali.