Lahore Qalandars were so close to their first win of the Pakistan Super League season. With support from the home crowd at Gaddafi Stadium, it seemed they had the game in the bag. However, Karachi Kings had other plans and snatched victory right at the end.
When Mir Hamza's edge off the last ball went past the wicket-keeper for four runs, it was heartbreak for Lahore once again. As the defending champions, they have now gone four games without a win. Their hold on the title is slipping with each match.
Yet another dramatic finish saw Karachi need 11 runs from the last over. After Hasan Ali smashed spinner Ahsan Bhatti, brought in with all Lahore pacers finished, for a six first ball, momentum shifted to Karachi.
Though Hasan fell on the second last delivery, caught running in by Haris Rauf who hurt himself, Hamza knocked off the winning runs to earn Karachi their second win in three games.
In a match with momentum swinging between sides, an unbeaten 72 from opener Sahibzada Farhan helped Lahore to 175-8. They looked on track to end their losing run by reducing Karachi to 44-4.
But a 95-run stand between Kieron Pollard (58 off 33) and Shoaib Malik (39) brought Karachi back. This set the stage for their eventual victory.
Opting to field first after winning the toss paid off for Karachi as Hamza removed dangerman Fakhar Zaman with the first ball of the third over. The Lahore openers and Farhan made a slow start. South Africa Struggles in Powerplay Despite van der Dussen Fours
Karachi spinners stifled the boundaries. They broke through when Tabraiz Shamsi trapped Van der Dussen lbw for 26. Farhan's first boundary in the 11th over lifted the scoring as Lahore reached 114-5 in the final five overs.
Farhan continued battling and reached his fifty. But partners kept falling as Lahore finished on 175-8.
Chasing, Farhan struck early for Lahore. But fifties from Pollard and a partnership with Malik kept Karachi in the hunt. Pollard fell in the 16th but Hamza saw Karachi home, despite a late fightback from Lahore. It was heartbreak for the home team once more.
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