PSL 2022: Babar Azam’s Karachi Kings finish last after 8th straight loss as Mohammad Rizwan powers Multan Sultans to win

Pakistan T20 skipper Babar Azam’s Karachi Kings registered their eighth successive loss in PSL 2022 to finish at the bottom of the points table.

Karachi Kings captain Babar Azam. (Source: Twitter)

Multan Sultans skipper Mohammad Rizwan led from the front as his side overcame a stiff challenge from the winless Karachi Kings to register their seventh win out of eight round matches in Match No. 23 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday (February 16) night. The Sultans were set a 175-run target, Shan Masood and Rizwan provided their side a 100-run start to the chase.

Babar Azam-led Kings, however, remained in the game as their bowlers kept a check on the Sultans’ scoring rate. By the time Shan (45 off 41, six fours) was dismissed by Mir Hamza – 15th  over, the asking rate had climbed past 13 runs per over. Rizwan (76 off 56, eight fours) upped the ante after Shan’s departure with five fours in a space of seven balls.

Pakistan T20 skipper Babar’s side registered their eighth successive loss in PSL 2022 to finish at the bottom of the points table.

Rizwan took 18 off the 16th over bowled by Umaid Asif before hitting another boundary off Chris Jordan. Jordan hit back by having Rizwan caught by Qasim Akram to reignite Kings’ hopes. It came down to 29 off the last 12 balls, Khushdil Shah played a series of sensational shots off Jordan as the experienced English bowler conceded 20 runs with Khushdil hitting two sixes and one four.

Khushi living up to his name. Here's the over that decided the game. #HBLPSL7 l #LevelHai l #MSvKK @KhushdilShah_ pic.twitter.com/CnRSzrqNKn

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 16, 2022

The match was finished by a magnificent strike by Rilee Rossouw over mid-wicket off the third ball of the final over bowled by Umaid as Sultans finished the match with three balls to spare. Sultans ended-up scoring 71 runs off the last 27 balls. Sultans are now firm favourites to finish in the top-two in the play-offs (14 points from eight matches).

Kings’ are still searching for their first win of the season (eight matches, eight defeats), the 2020 champions have already been eliminated from the playoff race.

Brief Scores: Karachi Kings 174/6 (Joe Clarke 40, Sharjeel Khan 36; Shahnawaz Dahani 2/44) lost to Multan Sultans 176/3 (Mohammad Rizwan 76, Shan Masood 45; Mir Hamza 2/24)

(with ANI inputs)