Vince, Khushdil Star as Kings Seal Victory

  Javeria Tahira 

Multan Sultans 234/3 (20) | Rizwan 105*(63), Bracewell 44*(17) | Khushdil Shah 1/33, Hasan Ali 1/44

Karachi Kings 236/6 (19.2) | Vince 101(43), Khushdil 60(37) | Akif 3/41, Usama 1/30

A fifth-wicket record stand between James Vince and Khushdil Shah assisted the Kings to beat Multan in one of the biggest chases in the history of HBL PSL. 

The Kings successfully chased a record 235-run target with four balls remaining at National Bank Stadium, Karachi, on Saturday night, the third-biggest successful chase in the competition's history.

James Vince was the man of the moment, making a hundred — his eighth in T20 cricket — off 101 off 43 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes. Khushdil Shah, well supported by him, contributed a handy 60 off 37 balls, including five fours and four sixes. The duo recorded a record fifth-wicket stand of 142 on that end for PSL to drag Karachi out of a tight spot.

Earlier, in the wake of the requirement to bat, Multan Sultans retaliated with a massive score of 234 for three. They started in a resilient manner, adding 17 for the opening over of Adam Milne and the next 16 for the fifth of Mohammad Abbas Afridi. The initial wicket imparted momentum before Hasan Ali deposited Shai Hope in the pavilion to leave Multan on 63 for one just before the powerplay.

Usman Khan was bowled by Khushdil Shah in the ninth over, but captain Mohammad Rizwan ended the innings. He shared 63 runs for the third wicket with Kamran Ghulam. Rizwan completed his half-century off 38 balls, and Kamran made 36 off 19 balls, including five boundaries and a six, before he was caught off Abbas — Abbas's 100th T20 wicket too.

The real late bloomer in the guise of Michael Bracewell came in the guise of a whirlwind 44* from just 17 balls, containing five fours and three sixes, as Multan reached past the 230-run mark. His 74-run, unbroken partnership with Rizwan in the last four overs saw Multan beyond the 230-run mark. 

Rizwan was left stranded on a stunning 105 — his fourth T20 century — to guide his team to what appeared to be a winning score.

But leave the rest with the Karachi Kings. Their chase began on an upbeat note when Tim Seifert crossed 32 from 16 balls at breakneck speed and David Warner added 12 from six. The openers were dismissed for 52-2 in the fifth over. There then followed a disastrous collapse, and Karachi was placed on shaky ground at 79 for four in the seventh over.

In their wake follows the Vince-Khushdil combination. The latter two fought back by taking charge themselves, mixing muscle with precision to flip the game on its head. Their record 142-run partnership off a mere 68 balls led Karachi to the threshold of a historic victory. Vince's century was the third-fastest in PSL history and an exhibition of tidy hitting in challenging conditions.

Both batsmen discarded their bats short of the winning line; Karachi needed 13 runs off the last 10 balls. But Mohammad Abbas Afridi, who batted at number eight, remained calm along with Muhammad Irfan Khan. Abbas finished the match in style by hitting a straight six off the second ball of the 20th over, leaving the home fans in ecstasy.

For Multan, bowler Akif Javed was the bowler's choice; he picked three wickets, but the rest of the bowling attack could not stop the late flurry by Vince and Khushdil.

It was one of those class-performing nights, but ultimately still James Vince and Khushdil Shah's love story, whose record-breaking stand would be etched in the books as one of the greatest PSL rescue acts in the competition's history. Karachi Kings' comprehensive victory not only provided their confidence with a much-needed boost but also indicated a turnaround towards playoff aspirations this season.