Karachi, April 12, 2025:
Mohammad Rizwan was upstaged by James Vince as Karachi Kings defeated Multan Sultans in a high-scoring clash of the HBL Pakistan Super League that produced 470 runs in just 39.2 overs on a GOOD National Bank Stadium surface.
Put into bat, Multan Sultans posted a dominant 234 for three on the back of an unbeaten 63-ball 105 by captain Mohammad Rizwan. But James Vince matched Rizwan stroke for stroke, smashing a hurricane 43-ball 101 to help Karachi Kings chase down the target with six wickets in hand and four balls to spare.
Michael Bracewell dismissed David Warner and Akif Javed removed Tim Seifert and Shan Masood off successive balls to reduce Karachi Kings to 52 for three in 4.2 overs. That soon became 79 for four in 6.5 overs when Arafat Minhas fell to Usama Mir.
At that stage, Vince and Khushdil Shah came together and added 142 runs for the fifth wicket in just 48 balls. When the two batters departed within three deliveries of each other, Karachi Kings needed 11 runs off 10 balls – then five runs off the final over. Abbas Afridi struck a six off the second ball to finish the game in style.
Vince, who notched his eighth career T20 century, struck 14 fours and four sixes. He reached his half-century from 23 balls and brought up his hundred off just 42 deliveries. He was eventually run out at the non-striker’s end by An accurate hit from Shahid Aziz at mid-off, with 13 runs needed from 12 balls.
Khushdil Shah was equally punishing against his former franchise, scoring 60 off 37 balls with five fours and four sixes. He played on to Akif Javed with Karachi Kings needing 11 off 10 balls – a wicket that gave Akif impressive figures of 3 for 41.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan registered his second T20 century against Karachi Kings to lift Multan Sultans to an imposing 234 for three after being asked to bat. Rizwan faced 63 balls, struck nine fours and five sixes, and completed his century in the 19th over, which yielded 22 runs.
Rizwan featured in three solid partnerships. He dominated the 55-run opening stand with Shai Hope (8) off 32 balls and then added 63 runs from 36 balls with Kamran Ghulam (36 off 19) for the third wicket.
However, it was the unbroken 89-run fourth-wicket partnership from just 32 balls with Michael Bracewell that propelled Multan Sultans to 234 for three. Bracewell, on his HBL PSL debut, scored 44 not out off 17 balls with five fours and two sixes.
Multan Sultans scored 63 for one in the Powerplay, while Karachi Kings replied with 73 for three. In the final 10 overs, Multan hammered 138 runs, while Karachi Kings tallied 128 in the last 9.2 overs of their chase.
Multan Sultans will now take on Islamabad United in a repeat of the 2024 final on April 16 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, before facing Peshawar Zalmi at the same venue on April 19.
Scores in brief:
HBL PSL 2025 Match 3 – Karachi Kings beat Multan Sultans by four wickets
Multan Sultans – 234/3, 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 105 not out, Michael Bracewell 44 not out, Kamran Ghulam 36)
Karachi Kings – 236/6, 19.2 overs (James Vince 101, Khushdil Shah 60, Tim Seifert 32; Akif Javed 3-41)
Player of the match – James Vince (Karachi Kings)
