Karachi Kings continued their dominant run in the Pakistan Super League 2026 by defeating Rawalpindiz by five wickets in Match 10 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday, April 2.
With this result, Kings have now won all three of their games this season and sit second in the standings with four points. Rawalpindiz, meanwhile, are yet to open their account after suffering their second loss of the tournament.
Rawalpindiz Bat First: Billings and Mitchell Rescue the Innings
After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Rawalpindiz made a shaky start. Captain Mohammad Rizwan was removed early for 21 off 13 balls, caught off Hassan Ali in the third over. Yasir Khan followed shortly after, bowled by Khushdil Shah for just 8. With the score at 33 for 2 inside four overs, Rawalpindiz were clearly under pressure.
Kamran Ghulam tried to stabilize the innings but could not last long, falling for 10 off 11 balls. It was the fourth-wicket partnership between Sam Billings and Daryl Mitchell that gave Rawalpindiz’s innings its spine. The two added 120 runs together across nearly 11 overs, producing the foundation for a competitive total.
Billings scored 58 off 35 balls, hitting eight fours and a six before being bowled by Hassan Ali in the 18th over. Mitchell was equally impressive during his time in the middle, contributing 65 off 41 balls with five fours and three sixes. He was caught off Mir Hamza in the 19th over. Lower-order batter Abdullah Fazal added some late fireworks, finishing unbeaten on 18 off just 7 balls. Rawalpindiz closed at 197 for 6 in their 20 overs.
For Karachi Kings, Hassan Ali was the standout bowler with three wickets for just 24 runs in four overs, a remarkable economy rate of 6. Khushdil Shah chipped in with two wickets at 9.25 runs per over. Adam Zampa kept things tight in the middle overs, returning figures of 0 for 28 in four overs at an economy of 7, while the rest of the attack proved more expensive.
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Kings Chase Down 198 with Four Balls to Spare
Chasing 198, Karachi Kings got off to a fast start through opener Muhammad Waseem, who smashed 23 off 11 balls including two sixes. However, Naseem Shah had him bowled in the third over to bring Warner to the crease with the score at 27.
From that point, Warner steadied the chase alongside Agha Salman. The two added 43 runs for the second wicket before Salman was caught for 29 off 24 balls in the ninth over off Daryl Mitchell. Warner continued to build patiently and then, when Azam Khan came in, the two formed the partnership that ultimately sealed the match.
Warner scored 50 off 36 balls, a composed knock featuring six fours and a six, before he was caught by Rishad Hossain off Mitchell in the 16th over. By that point, the required rate was well in hand and Azam Khan was in full flight.
Azam Khan’s innings was the centrepiece of the chase. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 74 off just 34 balls, striking six sixes and six fours at a strike rate of 217.65. He raised his fifty in brutal fashion and was in the process of taking the game away entirely before being caught by Rishad Hossain off Mohammad Amir in the 19th over. By then, however, Kings needed only a handful of runs.
Abbas Afridi finished the job with a six off the very first ball he faced, ending the chase at 199 for 5 in 19.2 overs. Kings crossed the line with four balls remaining.
On the bowling side for Rawalpindiz, Daryl Mitchell had the unusual distinction of being their most effective bowler with three wickets in 3.2 overs. Mohammad Amir picked up one wicket while conceding 38 runs in four overs. Naseem Shah, Rishad Hossain, and Mohammad Amir Khan all went wicketless.
Points Table
| Position | Team | Pld | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
| 1 | Multan Sultans | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +0.868 |
| 2 | Karachi Kings | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +0.524 |
| 3 | Peshawar Zalmi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | +0.674 |
| 4 | Lahore Qalandars | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +1.567 |
| 5 | Quetta Gladiators | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.650 |
| 6 | Islamabad United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -0.825 |
| 7 | Rawalpindiz | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0.674 |
| 8 | Hyderabad Kingsmen | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -2.077 |
With this win, Karachi Kings move to 4 points from three games, behind leaders Multan Sultans on net run rate. Rawalpindiz remain on zero points after two losses. Earlier in the day, Islamabad United had beaten another side by eight wickets, so the league table continues to shift rapidly in the early stages of the tournament.
Karachi Kings’ success so far has been built on contributions across the board rather than reliance on a single individual. Their local fast bowlers, particularly Hassan Ali, have been exceptional, as captain David Warner noted after the toss. Azam Khan’s batting form adds another dimension to an already balanced unit.
The next set of PSL 2026 fixtures will see the league continue to take shape as franchises look to secure their positions in the top four ahead of the knockout stages.
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