The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
So, that wraps it up! It was a rollercoaster of a ride with thrilling bends. In the end Karachi Kings came out on top. It is an important victory for them as it keeps them in the hunt for the playoffs apart from getting them bragging rights over their arch rivals. It has been a joy bringing you the ball by ball coverage. For now, this is me, Darpan Tikiya, signing off on the behalf of Sooryanarayan Sesha and Rajarshi. Goodbye!
Irfan Khan Niazi, Player of the match: I usually don't get too many chances with the bat. So, I try to give my 100% in the field. Today I got the opportunity to bat and I tried to contribute. I told Shoaib Malik, "I am your partner for crisis." He advised me to be innovative rather than trying to hit too hard. I was confident of my preparation. I just focused on my process.
Shan Masood, Karachi Kings Captain: A lot of things get the credit. Anwar Ali did a great job with the ball. Fielding was good. We conceded a few runs between overs 10 and 14. Then towards the end, Raza and Wiese hit two sixes in each of the last two overs. I thought they got 15 runs too many than what we would have liked in these conditions. Vince and Seifert helped us have a base with an excellent powerplay. Niazi and Malik had a cool head towards the end. So credit goes to all of it. I wanted to bat first. But the senior guys and management said, "it's a do or die game, let's rather know what the surface is doing". I have batted at 5 and 6 for Pakistan too. I am ready for any sort of role the team requires me in. Hopefully a couple of results can go our way and we can be in the hunt for the playoffs.
The post match presentation is coming up. Any guesses for who will get the 'Player of the Match'?
Aaqib Javed, Lahore Qalandars Head Coach: When you can't progress in the tournament in this fashion, you know luck isn't on your side. Good to see the crowd got what they wanted though. The various injuries would have hampered any teams, and it wasn't different for us. Fakhar's lack of form was a major factor as well. There are a few factors - the availabilities of the players are a thing as well. Once they don't come, don't perform, it affects the players as well. The kind of cricket we played doesn't justify our place at the points' table!
Shoaib Malik, Karachi Kings: We did speak about it in our meetings, I raised that when the match goes in a crunch situation, don't panic. Guess I remembered my own words, they had quality bowlers, but I thought they'd also break. After playing for so many years, this is what experience gives. You have to calm yourself, and when you do, you thrive. It doesn't get any easier, feels like I'm playing my first game. When the game goes in a crunch situation, there's plenty of butterflies in your stomach. He (Irfan Khan Niazi) is an exceptional talent, I kept telling him you're playing against quality bowlers, just watch the ball and look to get the connection. Being a youngster, you have a better chance of coming out successful. One more thing, we were at the airport, Pollard said to me one game you will win for the Karachi Kings, I'll win one. I've done my job, now it's his turn.
Karachi Kings win by 3 wickets.
James Vince 42 (27) | Zahir Mahmood 2/27 Abdullah Shafique 55 (39) | Tayyab Abbas 2/23
Take a breath, everybody! That was a humdinger. Karachi Kings started off so well. They were cruising at the half way mark. But then, Lahore came back riding on Tayyab Abbas' slinging deliveries and an economical spell by Sikandar Raza.
To add to the drama was the Tim Seifert runout that had us all confused. Those wickets in the middle definitely pegged Karachi back. But then a 16-ball-35 from Irfan Khan Niazi put them in a very comfortable position. However, they still managed to almost bottle it.
A caught and bowled and a runout in the last over had brought the game back on to a knife's edge. In the end, it was the very experienced Shoaib Malik who kept his cool and smacked a boundary when 3 runs were needed off the final delivery.
SHOAIB MALIK HAS DONE IT FOR THE KARACHI KINGS! WHAT. A. GAME.
20
overs
179/7score
W
1
1W
2
1
4
runs
Shoaib Malik*
27(17)
Hasan Ali
3(2)
Zaman Khan
1/41
19.6 Zaman Khan to Shoaib Malik, FOUR! The veteran wins it for the Karachi Kings, and the crowd at the National Stadium ERUPTS!!! Zaman misses the yorker, dishing out a full toss outside off stump. Malik reaches out for it, slices this one past the gap behind point, and the ball screeches to the boundary! Karachi Kings are still alive - they claim the honours by 3 wickets off the last ball tonight!