Karachi Kings Take Down Lahore Qalandars in High-Scoring PSL 11 Thriller

Karachi Kings kept their playoff hopes alive in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) with a thrilling five-wicket win over defending champions Lahore Qalandars at Gaddafi Stadium.

Chasing a challenging 200-run target by Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings reached the total with eight balls to spare, thanks to an unbeaten half-century from captain David Warner and a stunning late cameo from Khushdil Shah.

The chase began on a shaky note when Jason Roy fell for nine in the second over with just 10 runs on the board. Warner then steadied the innings with small but useful partnerships, first with Reeza Hendricks, who made 10, and then with Salman Ali Agha, who added 14.

The innings gained momentum when Warner found strong support from Moeen Ali. The pair added 58 runs at a brisk pace before Ubaid Shah struck again to remove Moeen after a quick 39 off 17 balls, an innings that included four sixes and a four.

Karachi suffered another setback soon after when Azam Khan was dismissed for 14 off eight balls, but that only brought Khushdil Shah to the crease, and he changed the game in dramatic fashion.

Batting at No. 7, Khushdil launched a brutal counterattack, with the defining moment coming in the 18th over, when he took 23 runs off Shaheen Shah Afridi. With 11 needed from the last two overs, Khushdil then struck back-to-back sixes off Haris Rauf to finish the chase in the penultimate over.

Khushdil remained unbeaten on 44 off just 14 deliveries, smashing five fours and two sixes, while Warner anchored the innings brilliantly with 63 not out off 44 balls, hitting 10 boundaries, including a six.

For Lahore Qalandars, Ubaid Shah was the standout bowler with 3/41, while Daniel Sams and Haris Rauf picked up one wicket each.

Earlier, Lahore Qalandars posted 199/6 after being sent in to bat, recovering well from an early setback.

The innings began with the run-out of Mohammad Farooq, who was sent back by Warner’s direct hit after scoring 18. From there, Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique took control, putting together a commanding 110-run partnership for the second wicket.

Fakhar made 61 off 41 balls with five fours and three sixes before falling to Moeen Ali in the 14th over. Moeen then struck again in his next over to dismiss Charith Asalanka for a duck and briefly pull Karachi back into the contest.

Shafique, however, kept the scoreboard moving and top-scored for Lahore with 62 off 36 deliveries, including five fours and three sixes, before being bowled by debutant Rizwanullah.

Late contributions from Daniel Sams and Sikandar Raza, along with a quick cameo from Shaheen Shah Afridi, helped Lahore push close to the 200-run mark, but the total was eventually overhauled by a fearless Karachi finish.

Moeen Ali was the pick of the Karachi bowlers with 2/26, while Rizwanullah and Hasan Ali claimed one wicket each.

Check out all the latest PSL 11 news, updates, points table, and power rankings on ProSports.