Match Summary

• Match: PSL 2025 Eliminator 1, Lahore Qalandars vs. Karachi Kings
• Date: May 22, 2025
• Time: Completed by 11:31 PM PKT
• Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• Toss: Karachi Kings won the toss and elected to bat first.
• Result: Result: Lahore Qalandars won by 6 wickets with 8 balls remaining.

• Karachi Kings Innings: Karachi Kings scored 190/8 in 20 overs (run rate: 9.50). David Warner’s 75 off 52 balls (8×4, 3×6) led the way, supported by Khushdil Shah (27* off 14, 3×4, 2×6) and Irfan Khan (18 off 12, 0x4, 1×6). Lahore Qalandars’ bowlers, Haris Rauf (3/35) and Shaheen Afridi (2/47), were effective, but their fielding was poor. Mohammad Naeem and Haris Rauf dropped catches (including a straightforward one by Haris), and misfielding, including no-balls, leaked 10–15 extra runs, inflating Karachi’s total.

• Lahore Qalandars Innings: Lahore Qalandars chased 191 in 18.4 overs, finishing at 191/4 (run rate: 10.23). Abdullah Shafique’s 65 off 35 (3×4, 5×6) and Fakhar Zaman’s 47 off 28 (5×4, 3×6) set a strong foundation, with Kusal Perera (30 off 24) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (23* off 12) completing the chase. Hasan Ali (2/37) was Karachi’s best bowler, but their fielding lapses and inability to defend in the death overs led to defeat.

• Result: Lahore Qalandars won by 6 wickets with 8 balls remaining, advancing in the PSL 2025 playoffs.

• Key Notes: Lahore replaced Sikandar Raza with Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Karachi swapped Aamir Jamal with Fawad Ali. Despite their subpar fielding, Lahore’s aggressive batting and disciplined death bowling secured the victory.

Batting and Bowling Tables

Karachi Kings Batting Scorecard

Karachi Kings: 190/8 in 20 overs (Run Rate: 9.50)

Fall of Wickets: 1-43 (Seifert, 3.6 ov), 2-74 (Vince, 6.6 ov), 3-99 (Baig, 10.5 ov), 4-137 (Irfan, 14.3 ov), 5-140 (Warner, 15.1 ov), 6-163 (Nabi, 17.2 ov), 7-165 (Afridi, 17.4 ov), 8-173 (Hasan, 18.1 ov)

Notes:

• Warner’s 75 included a 33-ball fifty, boosted by a dropped catch by Haris Rauf (straightforward, on 47).
• Khushdil’s unbeaten 27 provided a late surge.
• Extras (19), including 4 no-balls (3 from Zaman Khan) and 12 wides, significantly increased the total.

Lahore Qalandars Bowling Scorecard

For Karachi Kings’ innings (190/8 in 20 overs):

Notes:

• Haris Rauf led with 3 wickets (Baig, Nabi, Afridi), despite his dropped catch.
• Shaheen Afridi took 2 wickets but was expensive, conceding 47 runs.
• Mohammad Naeem’s 1/15, including Warner’s wicket, was economical, but he dropped a catch.
• Zaman Khan’s 4 no-balls contributed to the extras.

Lahore Qalandars Batting Scorecard

Lahore Qalandars: 191/4 in 18.4 overs (Run Rate: 10.23)

Fall of Wickets: 1-42 (Naeem, 4.3 ov), 2-75 (Zaman, 8.1 ov), 3-158 (Shafique, 15.2 ov), 4-184 (Perera, 18.1 ov)

Notes:

• Abdullah Shafique’s 65, with 5 sixes, was the match-defining knock.
• Fakhar Zaman’s 47 set a strong powerplay (60/1).
• Rajapaksa’s unbeaten 23 ensured a smooth finish.
• Did not bat: Shakib Al Hasan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan, Salman Mirza.

Karachi Kings Bowling Scorecard

For Lahore Qalandars’ innings (191/4 in 18.4 overs):

Notes:

• Hasan Ali’s 2/37, dismissing Naeem and Shafique, was the best effort.
• Abbas Afridi’s 0/49 was costly, leaking runs in the death overs.
• Fawad Ali removed Fakhar Zaman, a key breakthrough.

Fielding Performances

Lahore Qalandars Fielding

• Positives:
  • Catches:
    • Zaman Khan caught David Warner (75) off Mohammad Naeem.
    • Asif Ali caught Tim Seifert (16) off Shaheen Afridi.
    • Mohammad Naeem caught James Vince (4) off Shakib Al Hasan.
    • Kusal Perera (wicketkeeper) caught Saad Baig (11) off Haris Rauf.
    • Bhanuka Rajapaksa took two catches: Irfan Khan (18) off Zaman Khan and Abbas Afridi (2) off Haris Rauf.
  • Overall: Six catches were taken, showing competence in catching despite ground fielding issues.
• Negatives:
  • Dropped Catches:
    • Haris Rauf dropped a straightforward catch of David Warner on 47, allowing him to add 28 runs, significantly boosting Karachi’s total.
    • Mohammad Naeem dropped 2 catches, further compounding Lahore’s fielding woes.
  • Misfielding: Lahore’s overall fielding was described as bad, with multiple misfields leaking 10–15 extra runs. These errors included poor ground coverage and sloppy efforts.
  • No-Balls: Zaman Khan bowled 3 no-balls, and Salman Mirza bowled 1, contributing to 4 no-balls in the extras (19 total), which inflated Karachi’s score.
  • Impact: The dropped catches and misfielding put Lahore under pressure, making the 191 chase more challenging, but their batting strength overcame these errors.

Karachi Kings Fielding

• Positives:
  • Catches:
    • James Vince took two catches: Mohammad Naeem (14) and Abdullah Shafique (65), both off Hasan Ali, showing sharp fielding.
    • Mohammad Nabi caught Fakhar Zaman (47) off Fawad Ali, a crucial early wicket.
    • Substitute Aamer Jamal caught Kusal Perera (30) off Mir Hamza, a key late dismissal.
  • Overall: Four catches were taken, with Vince and substitute Jamal standing out in the field.
• Negatives:
  • Missed Opportunities: No specific dropped catches are noted, but Karachi’s fielding was unable to contain Lahore’s aggressive batting, particularly Shafique’s 65.
  • Extras: Karachi conceded 11 extras (4 byes, 5 leg-byes, 2 wides), indicating lapses in bowling and fielding discipline.
  • Impact: Karachi’s fielding was average, with no major errors but insufficient pressure to disrupt Lahore’s chase, especially in the middle and death overs.

Key Performances:

Lahore Qalandars: Abdullah Shafique’s 65 and Fakhar Zaman’s 47 drove the chase, while Haris Rauf’s 3/35 restricted Karachi despite his fielding error.

Karachi Kings: David Warner’s 75 was the cornerstone, but their bowling, particularly Abbas Afridi’s 0/49, couldn’t defend 190.