Shaheen, Fakhar shine as Qalandars overwhelm Kings.

Byline: Khalid H. Khan

KARACHI -- The high-voltage derby HBL Pakistan Super League clash on Sunday night was as boisterous as everyone had anticipated. And despite being buoyed by the support from the noisy crowd, Karachi Kings finished second best to the Fakhar Zaman-inspired Lahore Qalandars in a thrilling finish.

Lahore's fourth triumph in 12 matches - achieved with only four balls to spare - against their old rivals was set up by Fakhar's superlative 83 and it also kept the remarkable sequence of chasing side emerging victorious for the 11 straight fixture in the ongoing tournament.

Fakhar, the man-of-the-match, kept Lahore Qalandars in sight of the 187-run target after Karachi Kings had collected 186-9. The Pakistan left-hander was caught in the deep after striking eight fours and four sixes during his 54-ball innings.

Fakhar's dismissal also brought an end to his 118-runs partnership in 78 deliveries with Ben Dunk (unbeaten 57 off 43 balls, five fours and two sixes) after Lahore Qalandars had been reduced from two wickets down for no runs to 33-3 - when Mohammad Hafeez was caught at point for 15 - but David Wiese came out to smash everything in range. The former South African all-rounder crunched three sixes, including two on the trot when Daniel Cristian came on for the last over, and three fours in a nine-ball cameo of 31.

Karachi Kings - for whom their skipper Imad Wasim mysteriously didn't turn his arm over after getting out for a golden duck - were banking on Mohammad Amir to rescue them but the disgruntled paceman was smashed by Dunk and Wiese for 20 runs - 4, 1, 4, 4, 6 and 1 - in the penultimate over which started with Lahore still needing 30 runs. But the 39 runs added in just a dozen deliveries by the Dunk-Wiese duo killed off Karachi Kings altogether after these two sides had met in the PSL V final in late November.

There was no doubt about the significance of this battle which was spiced up by matchups between several Pakistan stars - whether current or the past - and none was more alluring sight when Shaheen Shah Afridi cleaned up Amir and had sent him on his way with a menacing glare.

Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Nabi both hit rapid half-centuries but losing five wickets for 37 runs in 25 deliveries at the death derailed the chance of the first 200 score while batting first.

The pitch - which was used for the opening fixture when Karachi Kings shot out Quetta Gladiators for 121 in an eight-wicket victory - made no...