Babar Azam’s brilliant 63 leads Karachi to PSL 2020 title

Babar Azam’s outstanding innings led Karachi Kings to their maiden Pakistan Super League (PSL) title after a five-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars in the final at the National Stadium, Karachi on Tuesday.

While chasing a small target on a tricky pitch, Azam played a remarkable knock of 63 not out off 49 balls as Kings chased down the target in the 19th over at the expense of five wickets.

For Qalandars, pacers Dilbar Hussain and Haris Rauf were the most successful bowlers as they claimed two wickets each.

Earlier, Lahore captain Sohail Akhtar won the toss and elected to bat first.

His decision, however, proved a disastrous one as Qalandars managed to post a modest total of 134-7 in their 20 overs, despite having a 68-run opening partnership.

Tamim Iqbal finished the innings with the top score of 35 off 38 balls.

For Kings, pacer Umaid Asif, Waqas Maqsood and Arshad Iqbal claimed two wickets each.

So that’s it from us. Hope you you enjoyed our coverage of the Pakistan Super League matches. Till next time, its goodbye from us down here.

What an achievement for the team and for Babar Azam as well.

That’s it. Karachi Kings have won the Pakistan Super League 2020 title.

WICKET: Is there a twist in the tail? Rauf gets another one as Rutherford departs without scoring.

Karachi Kings 124-5 (17.2 overs)

WICKET: Haris Rauf gets the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed.

Karachi Kings 124-4 (17.1 overs)

WICKET: Finally a wicket for Lahore Qalandars as Chadwick Walton departs after scoring 22.

Karachi Kings 110-3 (15.1 overs)

UPDATE:

50-up for Babar. What a class knock by a class batsman.

He is taking Karachi home.

UPDATE:

Karachi 99-2 (14 overs)

Kings and need 36 off last six overs with eight wickets in hand to lift the title.

Former Indian opening batsman Aakash Chopra has some words of praise for Babar Azam.

Those two Babar Azam drives against Shaheen Afridi. CLASS in Capital Letters. 👏👏 #PSL2020Final

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 17, 2020

UPDATE:

Karachi Kings 69-2 (10 overs)

WICKET: A big wicket for Lahore Qalandars as dangerous Alex Hales departs after scoring 11 off 11.

Karachi Kings 49-2 (6.5 overs)

Sports journalist Hamza Khan believes Babar Azam is the only player standing between Lahore Qalandars and victory.

It all depends on Babar now…#PSL2020Final #KKvLQ

— M Hamza Khan (@MHamzaKhan4) November 17, 2020

WICKET: Samit Patel has done wonders for Lahore Qalandars to remove Sharjeel Khan.

Karachi Kings 23-1 (3.1 overs)

So we are back for the second session of the game.

We will come back for the second-half.

Lahore have managed to score just 134 runs in their 20 overs.

So that’s it. That’s the end of the innings.

WICKET: Another one for Waqas. His second of the day as Faizan departs without scoring.

Lahore Qalandars 118-7 (18.5 overs)

WICKET: First wicket for Waqas Maqsood. Sohail Akhtar departs after scoring 14.

Lahore Qalandars 110-7 (18.1 overs)

WICKET: Huge wicket for Kings and Arshad Iqbal as dangerous Ben Dunk departs after scoring 11.

Lahore Qalandars 97-5 (15.4 overs)

UPDATE:

Lahore Qalandars 94-4 (15 overs)

WICKET: Another one Karachi Kings. This time it’s Arshad Iqbal who claims the wicket of Samit Patel.

Lahore Qalandars 81-4 (13.3 overs)

Islamabad United manager and sports journalist Rehan Ulhaq believes that Lahore will be in the match if they manage to post a decent total.

This pitch is by no means a 165+ pitch. If LQ can get a decent total here, we might have a really close final.

— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) November 17, 2020

WICKET: Another one bites the dust. What’s happening here? Karachi on a roll as Mohammad Hafeez departs after scoring just two.

Lahore Qalandars 70-3 (11.1 overs)

WICKET: Another one for Umaid Asif as Fakhar Zaman departs after scoring 27.

Lahore Qalandars 69-2 (10.4 overs)

WICKET: Finally a breakthrough for Karachi Kings as Umaid Asif removes Tamim Iqbal, who departs after scoring 35.

Lahore Qalandars 68-1 (10.1 overs)

Famous singer Asim Azhar feels that the ongoing match between Karachi and Lahore is giving the feel of India-Pakistan fixture.

Do you agree?

Pakistan vs India type feels arahi hain.. not sure if thats a good thing #pslfinal

— Asim Azhar (@AsimAzharr) November 17, 2020

Some words from the Karachi Kings’ interim coach ahead of the PSL 2020 final.

I wanted to say how proud I am to have worked with such a professional & dedicated team. Never in my life have I seen such spirit & unity. I’m so honoured to stand alongside this team tonight as we go out & give it everything we’ve got #PSLFinal @KarachiKingsARY 💪

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) November 17, 2020

This is an interesting stat for our readers:

STAT ALERT 📈

Before today @FakharZamanLive had faced 40 balls from @iamamirofficial in T20 cricket and only scored 30 runs (4.50 runs/over)

Today however, he has taken him on and scored 14 off the six balls he faced.#HBLPSLV #PhirSeTayyarHain #KKvLQ

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) November 17, 2020

UPDATE:

Lahore Qalandars 30-0 (5 overs)

Really interesting team selection by Karachi Kings where the team management opted for Iftikhar Ahmed, who has only scored 92 runs and has 2 wickets to his name in 11 PSL matches this year.

Lahore Qalandars playing XI:

Fakhar Zaman, Tamim Iqbal, Sohail Akhtar (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk (wicketkeeper), David Weise, Samit Patel, Mohammad Faizan, Dilbar Hussain, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi

Karachi Kings playing XI:

Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Alex Hales, Chadwick Walton (wicketkeeper), Imad Wasim (captain), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir Shane Rutherford, Umaid Asif Arshad Iqbal, Waqas Maqsood

Team news is in and there is only one change in two teams where Karachi opted for Umaid Asif instead of Wayne Parnell.

News from the centre is Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and opt to bat first.  

While we await for the toss, please read our detailed preview here.

It is going to be a mouth-watering contest between arch-rivals Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars.

Welcome to the live blog for the coverage of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 final.