Karachi Kings pulled off a thrilling two-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi in a gripping last-over contest at their home ground, marking their final match at the venue this season. Chasing a modest 149, the Kings leaned heavily on a composed 60-run knock from David Warner, but the game took a dramatic turn near the end. Despite a collapse that nearly cost them the match, Khushdil Shah and Hasan Ali kept their cool under pressure, hitting crucial boundaries in the final over to seal a hard-fought victory against Babar Azam’s team.
Zalmi got off to a dream start while defending the total. Luke Wood struck with his very first delivery, sending Tim Seifert back to the pavilion, and followed it up by removing James Vince in his next over. Teen pacer Ali Raza continued the momentum, dismissing Saad Baig, who misjudged a scoop attempt. Despite early setbacks, Karachi stayed in the hunt thanks to Warner’s resilience and some loose bowling from Zalmi.
Between overs 7 and 11, Peshawar managed to tighten the screws, giving away just 24 runs. But the Kings soon broke free as Warner and Mohammad Nabi launched a counterattack. Warner took on Ayub and Raza with a flurry of boundaries, while Nabi chipped in with a six and a four before departing.
With 44 needed off the final six overs and Warner still at the crease, the Kings were in control. But the tide turned again when Wood bowled Warner for 60 off 47 balls. Shortly after, Abbas Afridi and Aamer Jamal fell in quick succession, leaving Karachi needing nine runs in the final over with only two wickets remaining.
Peshawar, having exhausted their frontline bowlers, handed the last over to part-timer Hussain Talat. That decision backfired, as Khushdil and Hasan smacked a boundary each to take the Kings over the line—though not without giving their fans a scare.
Earlier, Karachi had put Zalmi on the back foot during their innings. Saim Ayub fell early to Mir Hamza, and Babar Azam had a rough start, surviving an overturned lbw appeal and being dropped by Hamza. Khushdil Shah shone with the ball, bouncing back from being hit for six by Tom Kohler-Cadmore to dismiss him next ball. He then broke a slow partnership between Babar and Mohammad Haris by trapping Babar lbw for 46. Babar’s knock was steady but sluggish, taking 41 balls to reach his score.
Though Haris tried to inject some pace into the innings with a 21-ball 28, Zalmi never quite picked up the momentum. A late cameo from Alzarri Joseph lifted them to 147, but Karachi’s calculated approach in both innings helped them grab a win they nearly let slip.
