- Fans can book tickets online at pcb.tcs.com.pk; Points table is available here
- The official nomenclature of the tournament is HBL PSL X; Media houses are advised to use the correct nomenclature in all texts, headlines and bulletins
Rawalpindi, 17 May 2025: David Warner and James Vince’s mammoth 162-run stand helped Karachi Kings to a 23-run triumph over Peshawar Zalmi, which also ensured their place in the playoffs in the 27th HBL PSL X match here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday night.
Karachi Kings defended the 237-run total – their highest ever score in HBL PSL bettering the 236-6 against Multan Sultans earlier this season, as they restricted Peshawar Zalmi to 214-5 in the allotted 20 overs.
With this result, along with Kings, Islamabad United too have qualified for the playoffs making Sunday’s Zalmi versus Lahore Qalandars contest a virtual knockout game.
After Zalmi elected to bowl first, Luke Wood inflicted the first ball blow removing Ben McDermott for a golden duck. Warner and Vince then took charge ransacking 57 runs off the Powerplay consigning Ali Raza’s 4th and Ahmed Daniyal’s 5th over for 12 and 18 runs, respectively.
James Vince, who also crossed the 12,000 T20 runs landmark during the outing, brought up his half-century off 29 balls in the 10th over as Kings notched 100 runs by the halfway mark.
In the next five overs the duo collected 62 runs, while Vince’s 42-ball stay, which yielded 72 runs with the help of 11 fours and one six, came to end courtesy Ali Raza at the end of 15th over. Vince, with 366 runs to his name in nine games, has also become the Hanif Mohammad cap holder overtaking Mohammad Rizwan.
In the following over Luke Wood removed Mohammad Irfan Khan for a three-ball two before Arif Yaqoob brought an end to player of the match Warner’s 49-ball 86-run outing, which included 11 fours and two sixes.
Khushdil Shah, who walked in to bat at 165-3 in the 16th over, bludgeoned four fours and three sixes to remain unbeaten for 43 off just 15 balls, while Mohammad Nabi struck three sixes and one four in his 10-ball 26 not out as the duo belted 72 runs in the last four overs.
For Zalmi, Luke Wood returned economical figures of 4-0-19-2.
In turn, Peshawar Zalmi’s spirited reply was highlighted by Babar Azam’s blitzy 94 off 49 balls as he set the tone for the chase with a 77-run second-wicket stand with Saim Ayub (47, 31b, 5x4s, 2x6s) after Mohammad Haris departed in the third over.
The budding partnership between Babar and Saim was broken by the Fazal Mahmood cap holder Mohammad Abbas Afridi (17 wickets) in the 11th over with 107 runs on the board.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore (20, 15b, 1x6) partnered with Babar for a 33-ball 62-run stand in which the latter clubbed three fours and as many sixes out of his total of 10 fours and four sixes.
With Zalmi requiring 69 off the last four overs, Kings managed to eke out three wickets in a space of 11 balls across the 17th and 18th overs including running out Babar Azam.
Maaz Sadaqat (19 not out, 8b, 2x4s, 1x6) and Hussain Talat’s (12, 6b, 2x4s) four fours and one six in the subsequent overs wasn’t enough as their team fell 23 runs short. For Kings, Abbas Afridi picked up 2-48, while Hasan Ali and Mir Hamza dismissed one batter each.
Scores in brief
Match 27: Karachi Kings beat Peshawar Zalmi by 23 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Karachi Kings 237-4, 20 overs (David Warner 86, James Vince 72, Khushdil Shah 43 not out, Mohammad Nabi 26 not out; Luke Wood 2-19)
Peshawar Zalmi 214-5, 20 overs (Babar Azam 94, Saim Ayub 47, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 20, Maaz Sadaqat 19 not out; Mohammad Abbas Afridi 2-48)
Player of the match – David Warner (Karachi Kings)
Sunday’s fixtures:
Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators at Rawalpindi Stadium; 3pm PKT
Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium; 8pm PKT
