LAH VS KAR MATCH 26

That is it! Time for another match. On the 10th of this month, we have two matches. Islamabad United will face Multan Sultans first. Join us at 2.30 pm IST (9 am GMT) for the coverage. Cheers!

Shan Masood says the bowlers did really well, fielding too but in the middle overs they conceded a lot of runs. Adds the openers laid a foundation which helped them to chase it down under pressure. Tells they wanted to know what the pitch is doing and hence opted to bowl first. Hopes the results go their way as they hope to stay alive.

Irfan Khan is Man of the Match. He says he gives everything in the fielding department and tries his best.  Adds Malik guided him to play to the merit of the ball. Reckons he sticks to his process.

Shoaib Malik, the man of the hour is up for a chat. He says they did talk earlier to not panic in crunch situations. Adds it wasn't easy but says they need to be calm and there are always butterflies in your stomach in this type of situation. Rckons Niazi is an exceptional talent. Shares Pollard told him to finish one of the last two games. Malik has done his part over to Pollard now.

...Presentation...

This sums up Lahore's season. They just can't close the game. They had the runs but the bowlers didn't start well. Tayyab Abbas and Sikandar Raza did bowled well in the middle phase which got Lahore Qalandars back in the game. Eventually, it came down to the wire. Shaheen Afridi bowled a magnificent penultimate over but Zaman Khan failed to keep his nerves in the end.

At first, we thought this would be a hard nut to crack for Karachi but the pitch eased up and their batters started well. Tim Seifert and James Vince started really well but they lost a couple of wickets in the middle which created some hiccups. The fait was back restored by Irfan Khan's heroics initially and then by veteran Malik.

The 42-year-old gentleman has done it for Karachi Kings and they keep their hopes alive for the playoffs. What a game! Absolute thriller! It shouldn't have come to this stage at one point it was all going well for Kings, Irfan Khan played a blinder and took his team to an easy win but his wicket gave a twist to this game. Karachi Kings fumbled and lost wickets but it was Malik's experience that helped them get over the line.

FOUR! Carves it away! The crowd erupts. Malik keeps his side alive in the competition. That is a poor delivery. A full toss outside off. Malik manages to reach it and carve it behind point. The veteran comes to the fore when his side needed him too. KARACHI WIN BY 3 WICKETS!

Just the single! All three results possible now. 2 for a tie, 3 for a Karachi win and anything less than those two numbers, it is Lahore. On off, this is lifted towards cover for one.

Two! On middle. This is dragged wide of long on for two. 4 in 2 now.

Hasan Ali is the new man in.

OUT! RUN OUT! Massive confusion. There was never two in there. On middle. A slower one. This is worked with soft hands on the leg side. They take the first fast and Minhas is off for the second. Malik sends him back from the point of no return. The throw is to the keeper who takes the bails off. 6 in 3 needed.

Just the one! Outside off. This is hit towards third man for a single. That gets Malik on strike.

Arafat Minhas walks to the middle. 8 runs needed in 5 with Shoaib Malik on the non-striker's end.

OUT! The drama continues. Zaman picks a wicket on the very first ball. A slower one on middle. He is through the shot and ends up chipping it to the right of the bowler. Zaman runs there and takes it with a dive. 8 needed in 5. New batter on strike.

FOUR! That is a seriously good shot by the veteran and yet again the last ball of the over goes to the fence. On middle. Malik lifts it down towards long on. It is way from the fielder and now just 8 needed from 6.