Lahore, May 1, 2025:
Multan Sultans’ nightmare HBL Pakistan Super League 2025 campaign ended with an 87-run drubbing at the hands of Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. The defeat, after eight league matches, brought an abrupt close to their impressive run of four consecutive final appearances in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s marquee event.
Needing to win their last three matches by big margins – and also hoping for other results to go in their favour – Multan collapsed to 117 all out in 16.1 overs, chasing Karachi’s daunting total of 204 for four. This was Multan’s seventh loss in eight games, with only two fixtures remaining – at home against Peshawar Zalmi on May 5 and Quetta Gladiators on May 11.
Adding insult to injury, it was former Multan batters James Vince and Khushdil Shah who once again delivered the knockout blow for Karachi.
Earlier in the tournament, Vince had scored 101 and Khushdil 60 during a match-winning 142-run partnership that helped Kings chase 235 in just 19.2 overs. This time, the duo stitched together an unbeaten 78-run stand in 5.1 overs to take Kings to 204 for four.
Vince remained unbeaten on 60 off 45 balls (five fours, two sixes), while Khushdil blasted 33 not out off just 13 balls, including two fours and three sixes, doing the bulk of the late-innings damage.
Karachi had gotten off to a flying start when captain David Warner smashed Michael Bracewell for two fours and three sixes in the second over. The Kings raced to 53 without loss in just 3.4 overs before Ubaid Shah dismissed Tim Seifert (22 off 11). Two balls later, David Willey removed Warner for a 13-ball 30.
When Ubaid struck again to dismiss Umair Bin Yousuf, Karachi had lost three wickets for seven runs, stumbling from 53 for no loss to 60 for three. However, James Vince and Irfan Khan steadied the ship with a 78-run fourth-wicket stand. Irfan eventually fell for 40 off 33 balls (two fours, three sixes), but the Vince-Khushdil combo took over from there to finish strongly.
The Multan bowlers had another rough outing. Only Willey showed control, finishing with one for 24 in four overs. The rest – Bracewell, Ubaid, Usama Mir, Curtis Campher, and Chris Jordan – leaked 180 runs in their 16 overs at an economy rate of 11.25.
The Sultans’ chase started in disaster.
Their leading run-getter, Mohammad Rizwan, was dismissed for a duck in the second over. What followed was a steady procession of wickets, ending with Ubaid Shah’s dismissal as the last man at 117 in the 17th over.
Only Kamran Ghulam (29), Yasir Khan (26), and Curtis Campher (12) managed to offer brief resistance. Tailenders Chris Jordan and Ubaid Shah chipped in with 14 apiece. Extras contributed 10, while the rest of the batting card made for grim reading: Rizwan (0), Usman Khan (1), Iftikhar Ahmed (8), Bracewell (2), Willey (0), and Usama Mir (1).
Karachi’s bowling unit shone. Veteran spinner Mohammad Nabi returned outstanding figures of 3 for 14 in four overs. Khushdil capped off a brilliant all-round performance with 2 for 26, and Mir Hamza chipped in with 2 for 15.
Scores in Brief
HBL PSL 2025 Match 20 – Karachi Kings beat Multan Sultans by 87 runs
Karachi Kings 204-4, 20 overs (James Vince 65 not out, Irfan Khan 40, Khushdil Shah 33 not out, David Warner 30, Tim Seifert 22; Ubaid Shah 2-49)
Multan Sultans 117 all-out, 16.1 overs (Kamran Ghulam 29, Yasir Khan 26, Mohammad Nabi 3-14, Mir Hamza 2-15, Khushdil Shah 2-26)
Player of the Match – James Vince (Karachi Kings)
