Karachi Kings produced a ruthless display of power-hitting and composure under pressure to beat Peshawar Zalmi by 23 runs in Rawalpindi, consolidating their position in the latest PSL 2025 points table.
On a flat track that offered little to the bowlers, it was Karachi’s top order that seized the night. Skipper David Warner led from the front with a sparkling 86 off 50 balls, while James Vince matched him stroke-for-stroke with a fluent 72 from 42 deliveries. Together, the pair added 162 runs for the second wicket, laying the foundation for a monstrous total of 237 for 4.
Even after both set batters fell in quick succession, the late assault did not relent. Khushdil Shah (43* off 15) and Mohammad Nabi (26* off 10) provided the perfect finish, hammering Zalmi’s bowling attack to all corners of the ground. The last four overs yielded 70 runs—a burst that ultimately proved decisive.
Peshawar Zalmi, coming into the game on equal points with Lahore Qalandars and desperate to stay alive in the playoff race, needed something extraordinary. And for a while, Babar Azam made that possibility seem real.
Chasing 238, Zalmi’s reply was anchored by their captain’s masterclass. Babar was at his fluent best—finding gaps, piercing the field, and launching sixes with supreme timing. His 94 off 49 balls, laced with 10 boundaries and 4 sixes, gave Zalmi a real sniff despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
Saim Ayub chipped in with a brisk 47, and Maaz Sadaqat’s late cameo (19* off 8) showed intent, but the asking rate had already ballooned. Once Babar was run out in the 18th over attempting a desperate second run, the chase fizzled out. Zalmi finished on 214 for 5—a valiant effort, but not enough to deny Karachi.
Karachi’s win lifted the Kings and Islamabad United into the playoffs. For Zalmi and Lahore, the equation couldn’t be simpler: win tomorrow and you will be the fourth team to make the next round.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | NR | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quetta Gladiators (Q) | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 13 | +1.530 |
| 2 | Karachi Kings (Q) | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 12 | +0.514 |
| 3 | Islamabad United (Q) | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 10 | -0.044 |
| 4 | Lahore Qalandars | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | +0.958 |
| 5 | Peshawar Zalmi | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | -0.176 |
| 6 | Multan Sultans | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 | -2.708 |
PSL 2025 continues tomorrow with a double-header. Multan Sultans will take on Quetta Gladiators in the afternoon before Zalmi faces Qalandars in a virtual quarterfinal.
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