Azam Khan powers Karachi Kings past Rawalpindiz to maintain unbeaten run

LAHORE: Azam Khan struck a rapid half-century as Karachi Kings chased down a target of 198 to beat Rawalpindiz by five wickets with four balls remaining in their HBL Pakistan Super League match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Batting at number four after Karachi lost early wickets, the wicket-keeper-batter made 74 from 34 deliveries, hitting six fours and six sixes. His innings shifted the momentum of the chase and helped Karachi remain the only unbeaten side in the competition.

Karachi finished on 199 for five in 19.2 overs. Azam was later named man of the match.

Azam turns the chase Karachi’s way

Karachi’s innings began with Mohammad Waseem and David Warner facing Mohammad Amir. Waseem started positively, collecting two boundaries early before attacking Naseem Shah with a six and another maximum in the third over. He made 23 off 11 balls before being bowled by Naseem.

Salman Ali Agha then joined Warner and added impetus, including a six off Mohammad Amir Khan. He scored 29 but was dismissed when he edged a reverse-lap attempt off Daryl Mitchell to captain and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan.

Warner held the innings together with 50 off 36 balls, an effort that included six fours and a six. But with the asking rate staying close to 11 an over through the middle phase, the match was still open. Karachi were 146 for three in the 16th over when Warner was caught off Mitchell.

Azam then took control. He reached his fifty in 29 balls in the 16th over with a six off Cole McConchie and followed it with another maximum. He was eventually dismissed in the 18th over after putting Karachi in a commanding position. Khushdil Shah remained unbeaten on five, while Abbas Afridi sealed the result with a six off Mitchell on the second ball of the final over.

Rawalpindiz recover after early setbacks

Earlier, Rawalpindiz chose to bat first and posted 197 for six. They made a brisk start and were 55 for two in the powerplay. Rizwan and Yasir Khan took 13 runs from Moeen Ali’s opening over, but Hasan Ali made the breakthrough when Rizwan, who scored 21, gloved a pull behind to Azam in the third over.

Khushdil Shah removed Yasir Khan and Kamran Ghulam as Rawalpindiz slipped to 55 for three. From there, Daryl Mitchell and Sam Billings rebuilt strongly with a 120-run stand. Mitchell made 65 off 41 balls with five fours and three sixes, while Billings struck 58 off 35 deliveries, including eight fours and a six.

Billings reached his fifty with a series of inventive and forceful strokes, but Karachi pulled things back late. Mir Hamza dismissed Mitchell, and Hasan returned in the closing overs to bowl Billings and then remove Cole McConchie. Rawalpindiz managed only 23 runs in the final overs and ended on 197 for six.

Hasan was Karachi’s most successful bowler with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs. Khushdil supported him with two for 37, while Hamza claimed one wicket despite conceding 49 runs. Adam Zampa and Abbas Afridi went wicketless but kept the scoring in check at stages.

The result left Karachi Kings as the tournament’s only unbeaten team, while Rawalpindiz remained in search of their first PSL victory.

Result: Karachi Kings won by five wickets.