Lahore Qalandars kept their Pakistan Super League (PSL) hopes alive with a dominant six-wicket win over Karachi Kings in Eliminator 1 at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, ending their rivals’ journey in the tournament.
Chasing a challenging 191, the Qalandars reached their target with eight balls to spare, thanks to a composed 65 from Abdullah Shafique and key contributions from other top-order batters. The victory sets up a high-stakes clash against Islamabad United in Eliminator 2, scheduled for Friday.
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Qalandars began their chase steadily, with Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem adding 42 for the opening wicket. Naeem was removed by Hasan Ali after scoring 14, while Fakhar hit a quick 47 off 28 balls before falling in the ninth over.
Shafique then took charge of the innings, crafting a fluent half-century. His 35-ball knock, featuring five sixes and three fours, anchored the chase. He also shared a vital 83-run partnership with Kusal Perera, who added 30 from 24 deliveries.
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Earlier, Karachi Kings posted 190/8 after opting to bat. David Warner top-scored with 75 off 52 balls, but regular wickets disrupted their momentum. Khushdil Shah’s late flourish — an unbeaten 27 off 14 — helped push the total near 200.
Qalandars’ bowlers delivered a team effort, with Haris Rauf grabbing three wickets and Shaheen Afridi chipping in with two. The disciplined bowling display laid the foundation for a confident chase and a spot in the next round.