PSL: Kieron Pollard unleashes 5 sixes as Karachi Kings register nerve-jangling 2-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars in last-ball thriller

In an electrifying match that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Karachi Kings secured a nail-biting victory against Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League's ninth edition (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium. The thrilling encounter, which took place on February 24 night, saw Karachi Kings chase down a target of 176 in the final ball, marking their second win of the tournament.

Lahore Qalandars post decent score

The match began with Lahore Qalandars setting a competitive total of 175/6 after being asked to bat first. Despite a rocky start that saw Fakhar Zaman dismissed early by Mir Hamza, thanks to an outstanding catch by Shan Masood, Lahore managed to build a decent score.

Contributions came from various players, with Sahibzada Farhan and Rassie van der Dussen putting up a 36-run partnership before the latter was trapped leg-before by Tabraiz Shamsi. Lahore's innings saw its ups and downs, including a dramatic moment when Jahandad Khan was initially given out lbw to Shamsi, only for the decision to be reversed due to a no-ball.

Shai Hope, making his first appearance in PSL 9, added valuable runs, but Lahore faced a series of dismissals that left them at 121/6. Nevertheless, George Linde and Sahibzada's unbeaten partnership added a crucial 54 runs, with Sahibzada reaching a commendable half-century.

Pollard-Malik partnership sets the stage for Karachi

Karachi Kings faced a daunting chase, and their pursuit was fraught with challenges right from the start. Losing four wickets in the powerplay, including key batsmen like James Vince and Mohammad Nawaz, Karachi seemed in trouble. However, a robust partnership between Kieron Pollard and Shoaib Malik turned the tide, bringing stability and momentum to their innings. Pollard's (58 runs off 33 balls) explosive half-century, featuring five sixes, and Malik's 39 runs off 32 balls were pivotal in Karachi's comeback. Despite their dismissals, the match came down to the wire in the final over.

Needing 11 runs off the last over, Hasan Ali's six off the first ball significantly eased the pressure. The game reached a climax on the penultimate ball, with Karachi needing just one run to win, which they achieved, thanks to Mir Hamza. Muhammad Irfan Khan's unbeaten contribution also played a crucial role in getting Karachi Kings over the line.
 

The bowling efforts from both sides were commendable, with Hasan, Hamza, and Shamsi each taking two wickets for Karachi, while Lahore's bowlers, including Zaman Khan and Ahsan Ali, also took crucial wickets to keep the match competitive until the last ball.

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