David Warner’s Karachi Kings delivered a clinical performance to register a resounding 87-run victory over Multan Sultans in the opening fixture of Thursday’s double-header at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The win marks Karachi’s fourth of the season, while Multan slumped to their seventh defeat in eight games — now languishing at the bottom of the points table.
Powered by a commanding unbeaten 65 from James Vince and late fireworks from Khushdil Shah, Karachi posted a daunting 204 for 4 — only the fourth time they have breached the 200-run mark in HBL PSL history, with two of those coming this season against the same opposition.
Put in to bat, Karachi got off to a flying start courtesy of a blistering 53-run opening stand between Warner and Tim Seifert in just 23 balls. Warner smashed 30 off 13 deliveries, while Seifert added 22 off 11 before both fell in quick succession to Ubaid Shah and David Willey. Omair Bin Yousuf’s early departure left Kings at 60-3 at the end of the Powerplay.
Vince then anchored the innings with poise, putting on a 78-run partnership with Muhammad Irfan Khan, who clubbed three sixes in his 40 off 33. After Irfan fell to Curtis Campher in the 15th over, Khushdil Shah injected late momentum with a fiery 13-ball 33, including three sixes and two fours. Vince remained unbeaten, compiling a masterclass in pacing his innings with five fours and two sixes in his 65 off 45 deliveries.
Chasing 205, the Sultans crumbled under scoreboard pressure. Aamir Jamal removed skipper Mohammad Rizwan early, and the wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. Mir Hamza (2-15) and Mohammad Abbas Afridi struck vital blows, while Nabi (3-14) and Khushdil (2-26) ran through the middle and lower order.
Only Yasir Khan (26) and Kamran Ghulam (29) offered brief resistance, but the Sultans never recovered from the early collapse. Their innings folded for 117 in 16.1 overs, with Chris Jordan unbeaten on 14.
Scores in brief:
Match 20 – Karachi Kings beat Multan Sultans by 87 runs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Karachi Kings: 204-4 in 20 overs (James Vince 65*, Muhammad Irfan Khan 40, Khushdil Shah 33*, David Warner 30, Tim Seifert 22; Ubaid Shah 2-49)
Multan Sultans: 117 all out in 16.1 overs (Kamran Ghulam 29, Yasir Khan 26; Mohammad Nabi 3-14, Mir Hamza 2-15, Khushdil Shah 2-26)
Player of the Match: James Vince (Karachi Kings)
Thursday’s second fixture: Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators – No result due to rain
Friday’s fixture: Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore – 8:00 PM PKT
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