Karachi Kings finished their HBL Pakistan Super League 2023 campaign with an impressive 86-run victory over the table-toppers and defending champions,

Lahore Qalandars, in the final league match at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

With this win, Karachi Kings secured their 11th victory in 17 matches against Lahore Qalandars, securing a fifth-place finish ahead of Quetta Gladiators. Previously, when Karachi Kings faced Lahore Qalandars on February 19th at National Bank Cricket Arena, they had secured a 67-run victory.

As the tournament heads into the playoffs, Karachi Kings will assess their performance while Lahore Qalandars prepare to take on Multan Sultans in the Qualifier on Wednesday. The following day, Islamabad United will face Peshawar Zalmi in Eliminator 1. The loser of the Qualifier and the winner of Eliminator 1 will clash in Eliminator 2 on Friday, leading to the final showdown between the Qualifier winner and the Eliminator 2 winner on Sunday.

In this match, Karachi Kings won the toss and chose to bat first. They made seven changes to their side from the previous game, while Lahore Qalandars rested Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sikandar Raza, opting for Dilbar Hussain and Shane Dadswell.

Karachi Kings’ Muhammad Akhlaq and Tayyab Tahir put on an impressive 70-run partnership off 39 balls for the second wicket, and Imad Wasim and Ben Cutting contributed 52 runs in 31 balls for the fifth wicket, guiding their team to a total of 196 for seven. Their impressive performance included 60 runs in the last five overs, adding to the 68 runs from the PowerPlay overs.

In his debut appearance for Karachi Kings, wicketkeeper-batter Akhlaq top-scored with 51 runs off 36 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Imad Wasim contributed a quick 45 off 31 balls with six fours, Tayyab Tahir scored 40 off 23 balls with four fours and a six, and Cutting made a rapid 33 off just 14 balls with two fours and three sixes.

In response, Lahore Qalandars faced early setbacks, losing Fakhar Zaman in the third over, and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. They managed to reach 110 for nine, with Hussain Talat top-scoring with 25 runs. However, the team struggled to build partnerships and Rashid Khan retired hurt after being hit by a bouncer from James Fuller.

Karachi Kings’ bowlers impressed with Akif Javed taking two wickets for eight runs, Imran Tahir bagging two for 24, and Imad Wasim claiming two for 26. However, the standout performer was Muhammad Umar with two wickets for 20 runs, showcasing his pace and accuracy.