Table of Contents
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 witnessed a dramatic encounter on Saturday night as Karachi Kings edged out Lahore Qalandars by three wickets in a nail-biting finish. This win kept Karachi’s playoff hopes alive, while Lahore, already eliminated, fought hard till the end.
Lahore sets a challenging total
Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Lahore posted a competitive total of 177/5 on the board. Half-centuries from Fakhar Zaman (54) and Abdullah Shafique (55) anchored their innings. Karachi’s bowling attack, led by Mohammad Amir, fought back but couldn’t prevent Lahore from setting a challenging target.
Karachi’s run-chase
Chasing 178 for victory, Karachi openers James Vince and Tim Seifert provided a solid foundation with a 59-run partnership. But, Lahore’s bowlers staged a comeback, restricting Karachi’s scoring rate and picking up wickets at regular intervals.
Karachi skipper Shan Masood‘s decision to promote himself to number three proved crucial as he steadied the innings after the fall of the openers. A quickfire cameo of 35 runs off just 16 deliveries from Irfan Khan further boosted Karachi’s hopes. However, his dismissal by Shaheen Afridi left them needing 12 runs from the final two overs.
Shoaib Malik: Hero of the hour
With tension at an all-time high, the final over arrived. Karachi needed three runs to win. In a display of nerves of steel, veteran Shoaib Malik smashed the last ball of the innings from Zaman Khan for a boundary, sending the Karachi dugout into a frenzy.
SHOAIB MALIK THE FINISHER 😍
The Karachi crowd erupts 🙌#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #KKvLQ pic.twitter.com/Zqtl93aWtd
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 9, 2024
Also WATCH: Kieron Pollard’s bat breaks into two pieces during Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars clash in PSL 2024
Sana Javed celebrates husband Shoaib Malik’s heroics:
Shoaib Malik’s wife and TV actress Sana Javed, couldn’t contain her excitement. Taking to her Instagram story, she showered praise on her husband, writing: “@realshoaibmalik you beauty! Hero,” accompanied by fire and red heart emojis.
