Karachi Kings defeated Peshawar Zalmi by two wickets with three balls remaining to end their home leg of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025. The Kings stood till the last over, chasing a target of 148, due to a brilliant finish from Hasan Ali and Khushdil Shah. After suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Islamabad United the day before, Karachi needed to end their home run with a victory.
On a sticky ground at National Stadium, home team captain David Warner called it right at the toss and chose to field first to start the game. Saim Ayub was dismissed early by Mir Hamza, and Khushdil made an early impact with the ball, taking three crucial wickets, including captain Babar Azam’s, who helped with a 41-ball 46.
Mohammad Haris put up a valiant effort with a 28 from 21 balls, but the run-scoring never gained traction as wickets kept tumbling. With a late 24* off 13, Alzarri Joseph helped Zalmi to a decent total. As the visitors managed to post a below-average total of 147/8, their lack of pace in the middle overs—especially when Babar and Haris were at the crease—proved costly.
On the opening ball, Luke Wood sent Tim Seifert back to the pavilion, ruining Karachi Kings chase.
In the second over, he then got rid of James Vince. Following the double-wicket, Warner was cautious and successfully anchored the batting, scoring 60 off 47 balls and adding eight boundaries.
The pursuit was put back on track by Warner and Mohammad Nabi, even though Zalmi bowled efficiently in the middle overs, limiting Karachi to just 24 runs between the 7th and 11th. The Australian opener hit Saim Ayub and Ali Raza for boundaries with his measured aggressiveness.
After Warner was dismissed by Wood with 29 needed off 21, there was a mini-collapse, as Abbas Afridi and Aamer Jamal left quickly after. Babar gave the ball to part-timer Hussain Talat with two wickets left, needing nine off the last over. To finish a thrilling victory, Khushdil (23* off 17) and Hasan held their own, both reaching a boundary.
India
