Karachi Kings clinched a 23-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi in the 27th fixture of Pakistan Super League Season 10 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday, successfully defending a commanding target of 238 runs.
With this win, the Kings—led by David Warner—sealed their place in the PSL 10 playoffs, joining defending champions Islamabad United.
Zalmi, chasing 238, managed to score 214/5 in their 20 overs despite a valiant 94-run innings by captain Babar Azam. The team started strongly with a 30-run stand between Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub, but Haris was dismissed in the third over.
Ayub then partnered with Babar for a 77-run stand before falling to Abbas Afridi for 47 off 31 balls. Babar continued to fight with support from Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Max Bryant, but was eventually run out on 94 off 49 balls, falling just short of a deserved century. His knock featured 10 fours and four sixes.
Peshawar Zalmi needed 55 runs from the last 13 balls following Babar’s dismissal, but could only add 30 more through Maaz Sadaqat (19) and Hussain Talat (12*).
Among the Kings’ bowlers, Abbas Afridi stood out with two wickets for 48 runs. Hasan Ali and Mir Hamza also picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, after being put in to bat, the Kings posted a massive total of 237/4, largely built on a 162-run partnership between David Warner and James Vince. The innings had a rocky start with debutant Ben McDermott bowled out by Luke Wood on the first ball.
Warner and Vince stabilized the innings and launched an aggressive counterattack. Vince scored a quick 72 off 42 balls with 11 boundaries and one six before being dismissed in the 15th over. Warner followed soon after for 86 off 50, hitting 11 fours and two sixes.
Despite the loss of a few quick wickets, Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Nabi ensured a strong finish, adding an unbeaten 70-run stand. Khushdil blasted an unbeaten 43 off just 15 deliveries, while Nabi contributed 26* off 10 balls.
Luke Wood was the pick of Zalmi’s bowlers, taking two wickets for only 19 runs in his four-over spell. Arif Yaqoob and Ali Raza claimed one wicket each.
Tribute to Armed Forces:
Before the match, players and officials paid tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces in a ceremony attended by Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The event featured performances by Sahir Ali Bagga and Asrar Shah, followed by a fireworks show.
Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry were present at the venue for the tribute, which honored the sacrifices of the country’s martyrs.
The Pakistan Cricket Board also announced that the PSL 10 playoff stages would be named after Pakistan’s army, navy, and air force in recognition of their role in defending the nation amid recent regional tensions with India.
Hostilities between India and Pakistan had earlier led to the temporary suspension of both PSL 10 and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.
