Warner, Khushdil’s late blitz steers Karachi past Lahore in HBL ​PSL El Clasico

The Karachi Kings are still alive in the HBL PSL 2026 as they cruised past their rivals, Lahore Qalandars, by five wickets in what turned out to be a nail-biting thriller at the Gaddafi Stadium.

It all came on the back of skipper David Warner (63*) and Khushdil Shah (44*), as both produced sensational batting displays on an eventful Thursday night in Lahore, launching fierce counter attacks to help Karachi chase down 200 in a match that had seemed beyond their reach.

At one stage, they were reduced to 69-3, and with their playoff spot at stake, it gave goosebumps, like a flimsy scene of your ship being stuck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, hoping for someone to rescue it.

And in the case of the Kings, Warner and Khushdil were the architects, as both of them steered their team’s ship out of stormy waters by stitching an unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 57 off 19 balls, helping their side sail over the line in 18.4 overs.

Apart from Warner, who struck nine fours and one six, while Khushdil smashed five sixes and two fours, Moeen Ali also played a crucial knock as his 17-ball 35 helped Karachi stay alive in the game.

Kings’ run-chase at a glance

The Warner led by David Warner, had a shaky start to the chase as Ubaid Shah removed opener Jason Roy for nine in the second over, with just 10 runs on the board.

Warner then built small partnerships with Reeza Hendricks and Salman Ali Agha, who managed 10 and 14, respectively, to keep the innings moving.

The skipper found solid support from Moeen Ali, and the pair added a quick 58-run stand before Ubaid struck again to dismiss Moeen for a brisk 39 off 17 balls, which included four sixes and a four.

Another setback followed soon after when Azam Khan was bowled by Daniel Sams for 14 off eight deliveries, leaving the Kings under pressure.

Khushdil Shah, who eventually changed the course of the game with his aggressive strokeplay, as he smoked 23 runs in the 18^th off Shaheen Afridi, that took the game Karachi’s way.

With 11 needed off the last two overs, Khushdil sealed the chase in style by hitting Haris Rauf for consecutive sixes in the penultimate over, as Karachi are at the sixth spot of the PSL 11 points table with eight points and a game to play.

Meanwhile, in terms of bowling for Lahore, Ubaid Shah stood out with figures of 3 for 41, while Daniel Sams and Haris Rauf picked up a wicket each.

Fakhar shines for Lahore

After being asked to bat first, Qalandars’ top-order batters Fakhar Zaman (61) and Abdullah Shafique (62) struck fluent half-centuries to power their side to a competitive 199 for six in 20 overs.

They lost opener Mohammad Farooq early, who was run out for 18 in the fourth over with the score at 24. Fakhar then joined Shafique, and the pair took control with a 110-run partnership for the second wicket, coming off just 61 deliveries.

Fakhar led the charge with a brisk 61 off 41 balls, including five fours and three sixes, before falling to Moeen Ali in the 14th over. Moeen struck again in his next over, dismissing Charith Asalanka for a duck and reducing Qalandars to 148-3.

Shafique continued to anchor the innings but was bowled by debutant Rizwanullah in the following over after a well-made 62 off 36 balls, featuring five fours and three sixes.

At 160-4 in 16.5 overs, Sikandar Raza and Daniel Sams added a useful 23 runs before Sams was run out on the fifth ball of the penultimate over after scoring 20.

Raza remained unbeaten on 18 from 12 balls and, along with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who made a quick 10 off four deliveries, added valuable runs late in the innings.