Karachi hold off Zalmi’s charge despite Babar Azam’s valiant 94 in a 451-run thriller
Karachi Kings 237 for 4 (Warner 86, Vince 72, Khushdil 43, Wood 2-19) beat Peshawar Zalmi 214 for 5 (Babar 94, Ayub 47, Afridi 2-48) by 23 runs*
In a pulsating encounter in Rawalpindi, Karachi Kings clinched their spot in the PSL 2025 playoffs, outlasting Peshawar Zalmi in a high-octane clash where 451 runs were scored. Despite Babar Azam’s masterful 94 off 49 balls, Zalmi came up 23 runs short, with Karachi’s top order – led by David Warner and James Vince – setting an imposing total that proved too much to chase down.
The match began with early drama, as Luke Wood bowled a peach to dismiss Ben McDermott with the very first ball. However, Warner and Vince quickly took control, tearing into the Zalmi attack. Wood remained the lone bright spot with an economical 2 for 19, but the rest of the powerplay overs leaked runs, allowing Karachi to gain momentum.
Any signs of a Zalmi comeback were quickly extinguished. Ali Raza and Ahmed Daniyal were hammered, with Saim Ayub and Hussain Talat also suffering at the hands of a rampaging Warner. Vince departed after a fluent 72, but Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Nabi ensured a brutal finish. Karachi plundered 52 runs from the final two overs, with Khushdil smashing an unbeaten 43 off just 15 balls. Raza and Daniyal ended with combined figures of 0 for 126 in eight overs, a forgettable outing for both.
Chasing 238, Zalmi showed intent. Babar and Ayub launched a fierce response after the early dismissal of Mohammad Haris, reaching 59 in the powerplay and staying ahead of the required rate until the closing stages. Babar’s knock, elegant and aggressive, hinted at a famous chase, while Ayub’s return to form was another positive for Zalmi.
However, the pressure of a soaring required run rate took its toll. Ayub fell three short of a half-century to a clever slower ball from Abbas Afridi. Tom Kohler-Cadmore offered brief resistance, but his sluggish 20 off 15 balls left too much on Babar’s shoulders. As wickets tumbled – Kohler-Cadmore, Max Bryant, and then Babar himself run out in a desperate attempt to retain the strike – the chase unraveled.
Though Zalmi managed 28 runs in the final two overs, the damage had already been done. Karachi’s explosive finish to their innings proved decisive, sealing a playoff spot with a well-earned victory. Peshawar now face a virtual knockout clash against Lahore Qalandars on Sunday night.
