Azam Khan delivered a breathtaking 74 off just 34 balls to propel Karachi Kings to a five-wicket victory over Rawalpindiz at Gaddafi Stadium, extending their winning run to three matches and placing them atop the PSL 11 points table.
Chasing 198, the Kings crossed the line with four balls to spare, finishing at 199 for 5. Azam’s knock, his first PSL half-century in two editions, featured 60 runs off boundaries alone, despite being dropped three times by the opposition.
Captain David Warner anchored the innings with a composed 50 off 36 balls before departing in the 16th over. The pair put on a vital 76-run partnership that kept the required rate in check. Mohammad Abbas Afridi sealed the chase in style, smashing a six off the penultimate delivery of the match.
Earlier, Rawalpindiz chose to bat and were reduced to 55 for 3 early on, with Rizwan, Yasir Khan, and Kamran Ghulam all dismissed cheaply. Daryl Mitchell and Sam Billings rescued the innings with a 120-run fourth-wicket stand, Mitchell making 65 off 41 and Billings striking 58 off 35, to post a competitive 197 for 6. Hasan Ali was the pick of Kings’ bowlers with 3 for 24.
Azam, named Player of the Match, admitted he wasn’t fully satisfied despite the big score, having given away too many chances. Karachi remain the only unbeaten side in PSL 11.
Key Performances
| Player | Team | Role | Runs / Figures | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azam Khan | Karachi Kings | Batting | 74 | 34 | 6 | 6 |
| David Warner | Karachi Kings | Batting | 50 | 36 | — | — |
| Daryl Mitchell | Rawalpindi | Batting | 65 | 41 | 5 | 3 |
| Sam Billings | Rawalpindi | Batting | 58 | 35 | 8 | 1 |
| Hasan Ali | Karachi Kings | Bowling | 3/24 | — | — | — |
| Daryl Mitchell | Rawalpindi | Bowling | 3/32 | — | — | — |
