PSL 2025, Match 11 Review: Karachi Kings clinch last-over thriller against Peshawar Zalmi

Karachi Kings ended their home leg of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 by pulling off a thrilling two-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi with just three balls to spare. Chasing a target of 148, the Kings stood till the final over, thanks to a clinical finish by Khushdil Shah and Hasan Ali. Coming off a disappointing loss to Islamabad United just a day earlier, Karachi needed to finish their home run on a positive note. 

The game began with home team skipper David Warner calling it correctly at the toss and electing to field first on a sticky pitch at the National Stadium. Mir Hamza removed Saim Ayub early, and Khushdil made an early impact with the ball, picking up three key wickets, including that of skipper Babar Azam, who contributed with a 41-ball 46.

Mohammad Haris showed some fight with a 21-ball 28, but the run-scoring could never get momentum with wickets falling regularly. Alzarri Joseph’s late 24* off 13 pushed Zalmi to a respectable total. Still, the lack of acceleration in the middle overs, particularly when Babar and Haris were at the crease, proved costly as the visitors managed to post a below-par total of 147/8.

Karachi’s chase began poorly as Luke Wood sent Tim Seifert back to the pavilion on the very first ball. He then dismissed James Vince in his second over. Warner was cautious after the double-wicket and anchored the innings brilliantly, scoring 60 off 47 balls, lacing his innings with eight boundaries.

While Zalmi bowled well in the middle overs, restricting Karachi to just 24 runs between the 7th and 11th, Warner and Mohammad Nabi made sure to get the chase back on track. The Australian opener's calculated aggression saw him hammer Saim Ayub and Ali Raza for boundaries.

Warner’s dismissal by Wood with 29 needed off 21 triggered a mini-collapse, with Abbas Afridi and Aamer Jamal departing in quick succession. Requiring nine off the final over with only two wickets remaining, Babar handed the ball to part-timer Hussain Talat. Khushdil (23* off 17) and Hasan kept their, each finding a boundary to complete a memorable win.