Karachi (Web Desk): Multan Sultans defeated Karachi Kings by 11 runs in the 28th match of the eleventh season of Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday after Arafat Minhas delivered a match-defining spell of three wickets.
Setting a target of 208, Karachi Kings fell short despite flashes of resistance, getting all out for 196 in 19.4 overs. Their pursuit began on an encouraging note as Jason Roy and Saad Baig added 29 runs in just 2.2 overs, but the early momentum was quickly halted when Arafat Minhas struck twice in quick succession.
The Kings slipped to 41 for 2 inside four overs, with Roy making 16 off nine balls and Salman Ali Agha dismissed for just two.
Baig tried to keep the innings steady, striking four boundaries on his way to 21, but his departure further deepened Karachi’s trouble, leaving them 47 for 3 at the end of the powerplay.
Under pressure, Reeza Hendricks and Moeen Ali attempted to stabilise the innings with a composed 67-run stand. Their partnership helped lift Karachi to 114 in 12.5 overs, bringing them back into contention.
Hendricks anchored the recovery with a fluent 49 off 32 deliveries, hitting two sixes and five fours, before falling just one short of his half-century.
Once Hendricks departed, Karachi’s chase lost rhythm again as wickets fell at regular intervals. Abbas Afridi provided a late surge, striking a quick 34 off 16 balls with two sixes and three fours, briefly reigniting hopes for the Kings.
However, his dismissal in the penultimate over proved a turning point. With 18 required off the final over, Mohammad Wasim kept his composure and conceded nothing significant to seal the win for Multan.
Arafat Minhas stood out with the ball for the Sultans, finishing with three crucial wickets that disrupted Karachi’s chase at key moments.
Earlier in the match, Multan Sultans posted a strong total of 207 for 7 after opting to bat. They suffered an early setback when Steve Smith was dismissed without scoring, but Josh Philippe and Awais Zafar counterattacked effectively, putting together a 66-run partnership. Philippe scored a quick 44 off 23 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.
Awais Zafar also contributed 36 off 27 deliveries, sharing another 44-run stand with Shan Masood, who played an aggressive knock of 46 from 25 balls, including three fours and three sixes.
Although Karachi bowlers managed to pull things back in the middle overs and reduced Multan to 174 for 7 in 18.2 overs, Imran Randhawa’s late hitting changed the complexion of the innings. He hammered 21 runs off Hasan Ali’s final over to push the total past the 200 mark.
For Karachi Kings, Khushdil Shah was the most successful bowler, claiming three wickets in his four-over spell.