Vince’s fairytale 101 propels Karachi Kings to sensational win over Multan Sultans

KARACHI: It was a rousing start by Karachi Kings to their HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 campaign, getting over the line with four balls to spare against Multan Sultans in what was an emphatic victory here at the National Bank Stadium on Saturday night. Karachi Kings won the game by four wickets with four balls remaining.

The architect behind the massive 235-run chase was none other than James Vince, whose hundred off just 42 balls was a sheer spectacle of brute force, technical brilliance and effortless shot-making, ensuring the Kings win by four wickets.

A “knock of his class” were the words from the commentator Mike Haysman the moment Vince reached his hundred with a languishing uppercut towards the deep extra cover region. His hand pumped up in triumphant celebration, the entire Kings dugout erupting in excitement, while the spirited few in the stands danced in unrestrained joy.

After all, it was the third fastest ton in the history of HBL PSL, equipped with 14 fours and four sixes, resulting in a much-deserved man of the match award.

However, it would be harsh not to mention Khushdil Shah, whose useful quick-fire 60 off 37 balls, with five fours and four sixes also proved useful for the Kings to kick off their campaign on a winning note.

At the halfway stage, it looked as if Multan would run away with the game after Mohammad Rizwan’s 105 and Michael Bracewell’s fiery 44 helped them post 234 on a surface which had bounce and movement.

But the home side opener, Tim Seifert, adopted the aggressive gear from the word go, scoring 32 off 16 balls with three sixes and two fours.

Kings’ newly appointed skipper David Warner got out for 12, getting lbw to Bracewell in the fourth over, while Seifert followed him the next over after edging Akif Javed’s short ball to Mohammad Rizwan.

In the first six overs, the Kings were 76 for three before Arafat Minhas was sent packing three runs later. Then, the gladiatorial fifth-wicket partnership between Vince and Khushdil started to take shape.

Both the batters displayed not only sumptuous but also some risk-taking shots to all corners of the park. Both the batters stitched a partnership of 142 runs, showing no mercy to the Sultans’ bowling attack that possessed the likes of David Willey, Usama Mir, Bracewell, and Chris Jordan.

Although, the fall of Vine and Kushdil within the space of two runs did create a bit of a stir, Abbas Afridi’s six in the last over sealed the deal. For Multan, Willey conceded 40 in just two overs, while Chris Jordan went for 48 in 3.2 overs without wickets. Leg-spinner Usama Mir was the most economical, taking one scalp for 30 runs in four overs.

Akif Javed picked up three scalps but went for 41 runs in his four-over spell. In the first innings, Multan Sultans posted 234 for the loss of three wickets in 20 overs. Under the captaincy of a new skipper, David Warner, the home team failed to stop the onslaught from the Sultans’ batters.

Amid all the criticism over his slow batting, Mohammad Rizwan looked trail-blazing with the bat. During his 105-run, knock-off 63 balls, the right-hander smashed nine fours and five sixes.

The surface at the National Bank Stadium did have bounce and off-the-surface movement. However, the Kings’ bowling quartet had no clue about the bashing from the opponent batters.

In the power play, Sultans scored 63 for losing one wicket after Shai Hope edged a full-length delivery by Hasan Ali in the sixth over. Although Rizwan started slowly but gained rhythm as his innings progressed. Not only did he display some lusty blows, but also managed to hold the one-end intact from the first over to the last.

Rizwan’s knock kept the Sultans’ inning intact, allowing Michael Bracewell to do what he does best! The star all-rounder from New Zealand again showed his sheer class with the willow, feathering 44 off just 17 balls with three sixes and five fours to chunk out crucial runs in the late overs in his first PSL match.

For the Kings’ New Zealand pacemen, Adam Milne, 60 runs in four overs without a wicket.

Hasan Ali, who vowed to deliver this year’s event to the team, went for 44 in four overs. Abbas Afridi gave away 53 runs for a single scalp. Khushdil Shah was the standout of them all, giving away 33 runs for one wicket in his four-over spell.