Babar Azam powers Karachi Kings to maiden PSL final victory against Lahore Qalandars

KARACHI: Babar Azam on Tuesday led Karachi Kings to their first Pakistan Super League victory after defeating Lahore Qalandars at the National Stadium.

Karachi Kings’ coach Wasim Akram has dedicated the win to Dean Jones, saying that it's the late Jones' hard work that had brought this about.

Although Lahore-born Babar Azam's unbeaten 63 would likely steal the headlines, the victory was actually built on the hard work done by Karachi's unheralded, uncapped and unknown medium-pacers Umaid Asif, Waqas Maqsood and Arshad Iqbal.

The trio laid the foundation over which Babar later capitalised and got his side the victory in a comfortable run chase.

Umaid, Waqas and Arshad combined to bowl 12 over for Karachi, gave away just 62 runs and picked up six wickets - two apiece.

Neither has ever played at the highest level but still proved more than a match for Lahore's studded, in-form batting line-up that threw away a solid start.

From 68-0, they managed a meek 134-7 as the openers' slow batting put pressure on the rest of the batters, who, in their attempt to up the scoring rate, kept losing wickets. The proverbial fireworks kept on getting postponed and in the end, never came.

In their defence, Lahore batsmen can claim that the wicket was 'double-paced', which it was as the ball did not come on to the bat all innings - even for those known for their clean hitting.

In response, Karachi always looked in control until a late flurry of wickets but Babar Azam's presence got them through.

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Karachi Kings hit 135 to win.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Imad Wasim, four runs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, one run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Imad Wasim, one run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Imad Wasim, no run.

Karachi Kings after 18th over: 129/5

Haris Rauf to Imad Wasim, one run.

Haris Rauf to Imad Wasim, four runs.

Haris Rauf to Imad Wasim, no run.

Haris Rauf to Imad Wasim, no run.

Haris Rauf to Sherfane Rutherford, out -- caught out.

Haris Rauf to Iftikhar Ahmed, out -- caught out.

Karachi Kings after 17th over: 124/3

David Wiese to Babar Azam, four runs.

David Wiese to Iftikhar Ahmed, one run.

David Wiese to Babar Azam, one run.

David Wiese to Iftikhar Ahmed, one run.

David Wiese to Iftikhar Ahmed, two runs.

David Wiese to Babar Azam, one run.

Karachi Kings after 16th over: 114/3

Dilbar Hussain to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, two runs.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, no run.

Dilbar Hussain to Iftikhar Ahmed, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Chadwick Walton, out -- lbw.

Karachi Kings after 15th over: 110/2

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, no run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, no run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, four runs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Chadwick Walton, four runs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, one run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Strategic timeout for three minutes.

Karachi Kings after 14th over: 99/2

Haris Rauf to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Haris Rauf to Babar Azam, one run.

Haris Rauf to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Haris Rauf to Babar Azam, one run.

Haris Rauf to Chadwick Walton, no run -- five wides.

Haris Rauf to Chadwick Walton, no run -- bye.

Karachi Kings after 13th over: 85/2

David Wiese to Chadwick Walton, one run.

David Wiese to Babar Azam, one run.

David Wiese to Chadwick Walton, one run.

David Wiese to Babar Azam, one run.

David Wiese to Babar Azam, no run.

David Wiese to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Karachi Kings after 12th over: 80/2

Haris Rauf to Babar Azam, no run.

Haris Rauf to Babar Azam, no run.

Haris Rauf to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Haris Rauf to Babar Azam, one run.

Haris Rauf to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Haris Rauf to Babar Azam, one run.

Karachi Kings after 11th over: 76/2

David Wiese to Chadwick Walton, no run.

David Wiese to Chadwick Walton, no run.

David Wiese to Chadwick Walton, four runs.

David Wiese to Chadwick Walton, no run.

David Wiese to Babar Azam, one run.

David Wiese to Chadwick Walton, one run.

David Wiese to Chadwick Walton, no run -- wide.

Karachi Kings after 10th over: 69/2

Samit Patel to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Samit Patel to Babar Azam, one run.

Samit Patel to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Samit Patel to Babar Azam, one run.

Samit Patel to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Samit Patel to Babar Azam, one run.

Karachi Kings after ninth over: 63/2

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, four runs.

Dilbar Hussain to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Chadwick Walton, two runs.

Karachi Kings after eighth over: 53/2

Samit Patel to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Samit Patel to Chadwick Walton, no run.

Samit Patel to Babar Azam, one run.

Samit Patel to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Samit Patel to Chadwick Walton, no run.

Samit Patel to Chadwick Walton, no run.

Karachi Kings after seventh over: 50/2

Dilbar Hussain to Chadwick Walton, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Alex Hales, out -- caught out.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, two runs.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, two runs.

Dilbar Hussain to Alex Hales, one run.

Karachi Kings after sixth over: 43/1

Samit Patel to Babar Azam, two runs.

Samit Patel to Alex Hales, one run.

Samit Patel to Alex Hales, no run.

Samit Patel to Alex Hales, four runs.

Samit Patel to Alex Hales, no run.

Samit Patel to Babar Azam, one run.

Karachi Kings after fifth over: 35/1

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, no run -- wide.

Dilbar Hussain to Alex Hales, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, no run -- no ball.

Dilbar Hussain to Alex Hales, one run.

Dilbar Hussain to Alex Hales, no run.

Dilbar Hussain to Babar Azam, one run.

Karachi Kings after fourth over: 28/1

Samit Patel to Alex Hales, no run.

Samit Patel to Babar Azam, one run.

Samit Patel to Babar Azam, no run.

Samit Patel to Babar Azam, no run.

Samit Patel to Babar Azam, no run.

Samit Patel to Alex Hales, three run.

Samit Patel to Sharjeel Khan, out -- caught out.

Karachi Kings after third over: 23/0

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Sharjeel Khan, one run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Sharjeel Khan, no run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Sharjeel Khan, no run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, one run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, no run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Sharjeel Khan, one run.

Karachi Kings after second over: 20/0

Haris Rauf to Babar Azam, no run.

Haris Rauf to Sharjeel Khan, one run.

Haris Rauf to Sharjeel Khan, no run.

Haris Rauf to Sharjeel Khan, four runs.

Haris Rauf to Sharjeel Khan, no run.

Haris Rauf to Sharjeel Khan, four runs.

Karachi Kings after first over: 11/0

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, no run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, four runs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, four runs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Sharjeel Khan, one run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam, one run.

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Sharjeel Khan, one run.

Karachi Kings start batting.

Karachi Kings need 135 runs to win the final.

Lahore Qalandars after 20th over: 134/7

Mohammad Amir to Shaheen Shah Afridi, two runs.

Mohammad Amir to Shaheen Shah Afridi, four runs.

Mohammad Amir to David Wiese, one run.

Mohammad Amir to Shaheen Shah Afridi, one run.

Mohammad Amir to Shaheen Shah Afridi, six runs.

Mohammad Amir to David Wiese, one run.

Lahore Qalandars after 19th over: 119/7

Waqas Maqsood to David Wiese, one run.

Waqas Maqsood to Mohammad Faizan, out -- caught out.

Waqas Maqsood to David Wiese, one run.

Waqas Maqsood to David Wiese, two runs.

Waqas Maqsood to David Wiese, four runs.

Waqas Maqsood to David Wiese, no run -- no ball.

Waqas Maqsood to Sohail Akhtar, out -- caught out.

Lahore Qalandars after 18th over: 110/5

Mohammad Amir to Sohail Akhtar, one runs.

Mohammad Amir to Sohail Akhtar, two runs.

Mohammad Amir to Sohail Akhtar, no run.

Mohammad Amir to David Wiese, one run.

Mohammad Amir to Sohail Akhtar, one run.

Mohammad Amir to David Wiese, one run.

Lahore Qalandars after 17th over: 104/5

Umaid Asif to Sohail Akhtar, no run.

Umaid Asif to Sohail Akhtar, no run.

Umaid Asif to David Wiese, one run.

Umaid Asif to David Wiese, no run.

Umaid Asif to David Wiese, no run.

Umaid Asif to David Wiese, four runs.

Lahore Qalandars after 16th over: 99/5

Arshad Iqbal to David Wiese, one run.

Arshad Iqbal to Sohail Akhtar, one run.

Arshad Iqbal to Ben Dunk, out -- caught out.

Arshad Iqbal to Sohail Akhtar, one run.

Arshad Iqbal to Ben Dunk, one run.

Arshad Iqbal to Sohail Akhtar, one run.

Lahore Qalandars after 15th over: 94/4

Waqas Maqsood to Ben Dunk, no run.

Waqas Maqsood to Ben Dunk, no run.

Waqas Maqsood to Ben Dunk, four runs.

Waqas Maqsood to Sohail Akhtar, one run

Waqas Maqsood to Sohail Akhtar, no run.

Waqas Maqsood to Ben Dunk, one run.

Lahore Qalandars after 14th over: 88/4

Arshad Iqbal to Sohail Akhtar, two runs.

Arshad Iqbal to Sohail Akhtar, four runs.

Arshad Iqbal to Ben Dunk, one run.

Arshad Iqbal to Samit Patel, out -- caught out.

Arshad Iqbal to Samit Patel, two runs.

Arshad Iqbal to Ben Dunk, one run.

Strategic timeout for three minutes.

Lahore Qalandars after 13th over: 78/3

Iftikhar Ahmed to Ben Dunk, one run.

Iftikhar Ahmed to Samit Patel, one run.

Iftikhar Ahmed to Ben Dunk, one run.

Iftikhar Ahmed to Samit Patel, one run.

Iftikhar Ahmed to Ben Dunk, one run.

Iftikhar Ahmed to Samit Patel, one run.

Lahore Qalandars after 12th over: 72/3

Imad Wasim to Ben Dunk, no run.

Imad Wasim to Samit Patel, one run.

Imad Wasim to Samit Patel, no run.

Imad Wasim to Samit Patel, no run.

Imad Wasim to Ben Dunk, one run.

Imad Wasim to Mohammad Hafeez, out -- caught out.

Lahore Qalandars after 11th over: 70/2

Umaid Asif to Ben Dunk, no run.

Umaid Asif to Mohammad Hafeez, one run.

Umaid Asif to Fakhar Zaman, out -- caught out.

Umaid Asif to Mohammad Hafeez, one run.

Umaid Asif to Mohammad Hafeez, no run.

Umaid Asif to Tamim Iqbal, out -- caught out.

Lahore Qalandars after 10th over: 68/0

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, four runs.

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Arshad Iqbal to Fakhar Zaman, one run.

Arshad Iqbal to Fakhar Zaman, no run.

Lahore Qalandars after ninth over: 63/0

Umaid Asif to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Umaid Asif to Fakhar Zaman, one run.

Umaid Asif to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Umaid Asif to Fakhar Zaman, one run.

Umaid Asif to Fakhar Zaman, no run.

Umaid Asif to Fakhar Zaman, no run.

Lahore Qalandars after eighth over: 59/0

Iftikhar Ahmed to Tamim Iqbal, two runs.

Iftikhar Ahmed to Tamim Iqbal, four runs.

Iftikhar Ahmed to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Iftikhar Ahmed to Tamim Iqbal, six runs.

Iftikhar Ahmed to Fakhar Zaman, one run.

Iftikhar Ahmed to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Lahore Qalandars after seventh over: 45/0

Umaid Asif to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Umaid Asif to Tamim Iqbal, four run.

Umaid Asif to Tamim Iqbal, two runs.

Umaid Asif to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Umaid Asif to Fakhar Zaman, one run.

Umaid Asif to Fakhar Zaman, no run.

Lahore Qalandars after sixth over: 37/0

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, four runs.

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, no run -- wide.

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, two runs.

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Arshad Iqbal to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Lahore Qalandars after fifth over: 30/0

Waqas Maqsood to Fakhar Zaman, no run.

Waqas Maqsood to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Waqas Maqsood to Fakhar Zaman, one run.

Waqas Maqsood to Fakhar Zaman, no run.

Waqas Maqsood to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Waqas Maqsood to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Lahore Qalandars after fourth over: 27/0

Mohammad Amir to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Mohammad Amir to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Mohammad Amir to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Mohammad Amir to Fakhar Zaman, one run.

Mohammad Amir to Fakhar Zaman, four runs.

Mohammad Amir to Fakhar Zaman, four runs.

Lahore Qalandars after third over: 17/0

Waqas Maqsood to Fakhar Zaman, one run.

Waqas Maqsood to Fakhar Zaman, no run.

Waqas Maqsood to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Waqas Maqsood to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Waqas Maqsood to Fakhar Zaman, one run.

Waqas Maqsood to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Waqas Maqsood to Tamim Iqbal, no run -- wide.

Lahore Qalandars after second over: 12/0

Mohammad Amir to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Mohammad Amir to Tamim Iqbal, one run.

Mohammad Amir to Fakhar Zaman, no run.

Mohammad Amir to Fakhar Zaman, no run.

Mohammad Amir to Fakhar Zaman, one run.

Mohammad Amir to Fakhar Zaman, no run -- wide.

Mohammad Amir to Fakhar Zaman, four runs.

Mohammad Amir to Fakhar Zaman, no run -- wide.

Lahore Qalandars after first over: 4/0

Imad Wasim to Tamim Iqbal, four runs.

Imad Wasim to Tamim Iqbal, four runs.

Imad Wasim to Tamim Iqbal, four runs.

Imad Wasim to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Imad Wasim to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

Imad Wasim to Tamim Iqbal, no run.

The dream final begins as players get on the field.

Fakhar Zaman and Tamim Iqbal set to open for Lahore Qalandars.

Lahore Qalandars win toss and decide to bat first.