PSL weekend wrap: Warner, Fakhar and Nawaz shine as playoff race goes down to the wire

Dubai: It was a weekend of playoff deciders, record scores, and a finish that quite literally came down to a fingertip. With the final round of league matches in the Pakistan Super League 2025 delivering all the drama fans could ask for, Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars confirmed their spots in the knockouts, while Quetta Gladiators edged out Multan Sultans to seal top spot in the table.

Karachi’s ticket to the playoffs came courtesy of a high-scoring thriller in Rawalpindi. David Warner’s 86 off 50 balls laid the foundation for a mammoth 237, a total made more imposing by a chaotic finish that saw Khushdil Shah (43 not out off 15) and Mohammad Nabi add 52 in the final two overs. Peshawar Zalmi’s bowlers had no answers, with Raza and Daniyal combining to concede 126 runs in eight overs. In reply, Babar Azam’s 94 off 49 gave Zalmi hope, but the chase fell 23 short, ending their playoff hopes.

If that wasn’t dramatic enough, Lahore Qalandars then dealt the final blow to Peshawar’s campaign. In a rain-shortened 13-over clash, Fakhar Zaman’s blistering 60 off 36 powered Qalandars to 149. Despite a string of dropped catches by Zalmi — two of them off Fakhar — Lahore’s top order pressed on, with Mohammad Naeem, Kusal Perera and Asif Ali keeping the scoring rate high.

In the chase, Salman Mirza took 4 for 31, striking thrice in his first two overs to derail any momentum Zalmi hoped to build. It left Lahore victorious and Zalmi out, finishing fifth in the standings.

But perhaps the most thrilling finish of the weekend came in the Quetta Gladiators’ clash with Multan Sultans. With two needed off the final ball and the table-topping spot on the line, Hasan Nawaz dug out a yorker from Mohammad Hasnain and lifted it just over long-on’s fingertips for six. His unbeaten 67 off 38 carried Quetta to 190, chasing down the 186 they needed to secure first place.

Earlier, Multan had shown fight, led by Yasir Khan’s powerplay assault and cameos from Tayyab Tahir and Shahid Aziz that helped them to a competitive 185. But it wasn’t enough to prevent their ninth loss in ten matches in a forgettable campaign.

With the regular season done, the playoffs are set. Quetta enter the Qualifier as league leaders, Karachi and Lahore head to the Eliminator, and the PSL’s knockout phase promises more fireworks.