Irfan's blitz lead Kings to much-needed victory over Qalandars

Lahore, 4 May 2025: Muhammad Irfan Khan’s blistering knock of 48 off 21 balls catapulted Karachi Kings to a much-needed four-wicket triumph over arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars in a rain-hit 15-over game here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday night.

Kings chased the 168-run target in 14.3 overs. Earlier, Qalandars’ 160-8 in 15 overs was revised to 167 based on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, when rain had arrived after 7.5 overs were bowled in their innings.

Irfan Khan (48 not out, 21b, 2x4s, 5x6s), who smashed his highest HBL PSL score in 25^th game for the Kings across three seasons, walked in to bat at 74-3 in the seventh over and partnered with Saad Baig (25, 15b, 3x4s, 1x6) to take the team to 100-run mark in the 10^th over.

After Khushdil Shah departed for a seven-ball nine in the 12^th over, Mohammad Nabi (15, 18b, 1x4, 1x6) joined Irfan in the middle as the duo blazed on their way to gathering 45 runs for the sixth wicket off a mere 17 balls. With the required rate exactly 16 after 12 overs, Irfan launched Shaheen Shah Afridi for three massive sixes consigning him to a 21-run over.

On the first ball of next over, Irfan powered Haris Rauf for a six, while Nabi too joined him in the charge with a six and a four to take 20 runs off the over, bringing the equation down to seven needed off six balls.

Daryl Mitchell, bowling his second over of the game, removed Nabi on the first ball, conceded a single on the second and then got hit for a match-sealing six off Irfan.