PSL 2026: Multan Sultans pip Karachi Kings in high-scoring clash to jump to second place on points table

Match overview

Multan Sultans jumped to the second place on the PSL 2026 points table after they pipped Karachi Kings by 11 runs at the National Stadium in Karachi on April 19. Sultans now have 10 points to their credit with five wins and two losses in seven games this season. Arafat Minhas was adjudged the Player of the Match (POTM) for bagging a three-for and scoring 17 off 12 balls.

Chasing 208 to win, Kings lost three wickets in the powerplay as Minhas and Peter Siddle provided Sultans with early strikes. Kings skipper Moeen Ali (27 off 23) and Reeza Hendricks (49 off 32) then added 64 for the fourth wicket to avoid the chase from going off the rails.

Mohammad Imran snapped the partnership by dismissing Hendricks in the 13th over. Abbas Afridi (34 off 16) and Hasan Ali (23 off 10) kept Karachi interested, but the pressure of the mounting asking rate got to them in the end. Karachi got bowled out for 196 with two balls to spare and are seventh on the points table with three wins and four losses in seven games. Minhas was the top wicket-taker for Sultans.

Earlier, Karachi Kings skipper elected to field and Khushdil Shah proved him right by dismissing Steven Smith for a duck in the second over of the match. Awais Zafar (36 off 27) and Josh Philippe (44 off 23) added 66 runs for the second wicket to take Sultans out of early trouble. Khushdil came back into the attack and dismissed Philippe to break the stand. Zafar also fell to Khushdil at an individual score of 36 as Sultans lost 121/3 in 12.1 overs.

Shan Masood was unfortunate to miss out on his fifty. He struck three fours and as many sixes at a strike rate of 184.00. A few lusty blows at the fag end of the innings from Mohammad Imran helped Sultans post 207. Imran remained unbeaten on 26 off just eight balls at a strike rate of 325.00.

Khushdil bagged 3/35, and Moeen returned figures of 2/30 in his four overs.

Top run-scorer of the match

Top wicket-taker of the match

Player of the Match

Arafat Minhas

While Arafat Minhas couldn't make the most out of his start (17 off 12), he proved his value with the ball in hand. He accounted for Jason Roy, Salman Agha and Shahid Aziz to finish with figures of 3/32.

Turning Point

Karachi were rocked early and lost three crucial wickets in the powerplay, which pegged them back. While the pair of Moeen and Hendricks pulled them from that crisis, their untimely dismissals cost Karachi the game.

What the captains said

Winning Team Captain, Ashton Turner (MS)

"We had some great contributions across the board. We had a great game but still there are areas to improve on. We had some solid contributions in the earlier games. Again we are moving in the right direction and that is a satisfying feeling for us."

Losing Team Captain, Moeen Ali (KK)

"I felt they had a really good powerplay, we dragged it back in the middle overs but then again conceded too many runs at the death."