Twitter Reactions: Babar Azam's heroics go in vain as Karachi Kings' torrid season continues

Babar Azam-led Karachi Kings faltered to yet another loss against Peshawar Zalmi in the 11th game of PSL 2022. Earlier in the day, Karachi Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first at the National Stadium in Karachi. Hazratullah Zazai and Kamran Akmal opened the innings and got off a good start in the powerplay scoring 53. However, Zazai, after scoring a brisk 41 off just 27 balls, was dismissed and Kamran soon followed him for just 21. Haider Ali struggled to get his strike rate up and he perished for 16 at the 13th over mark.

Shoaib Malik and Ben Cutting upped the ante with a quickfire 5- run partnership and ensured that the Peshawar Zalmi ended up with a decent score. Malik, in particular hit five fours and two sixes, in his unbeaten innings of 52 from 28 balls while Sherfane Rutherford’s six in the last overtook the total past 170. Umaid Asif was the pick of the bowlers from the Karachi Kings as the former picked up three wickets and conceded 36 in his spell.

Babar Azam’s unbeaten 90 couldn’t take Karachi over the line

In reply, the Karachi Kings found early hindrance in the chase of 174 with the wicket of Sharjeel Khan in just the third ball of the innings. Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a duck as well leaving the Karachi side at two wickets for three runs. Ian Cockbrain and skipper Babar Azam stitched a good partnership in the middle until Usman Qadir picked up the former for 31. Azam was running out of partners with Mohammad Nabi and Aamer Yamin contributing for a limited period of time.

At 128 for 6, the onus was on Babar to take the side home and he managed to hit some lusty blows towards the end and increased his strike rate significantly after reaching his half-century. However, the Peshawar side kept increasing the required rate with some excellent tactical bowling in the last few overs and the game looked over before the penultimate over for the Karachi side. Babar ended up staying unbeaten on 90 off 63 balls while Mohammad Umar and Salman Irshad economic spells turned out to be game-changing.

Peshawar Zalmi won the game by nine runs in the end and have moved into the fourth position in the points table. They still have to better their net run rate in the coming games while things are not looking good for the Karachi Kings who are yet to register a win in their four games so far.

Here’s how the Twitterati reacted to it:

If you hate him just raise your hand and slap yourself👋#KKvPZ #PSL2022#PSL7 pic.twitter.com/QUQwae6DM9

— ArSlan🏏 (@Arslankhan70) February 4, 2022

Hard luck @babarazam258 😭 you fought alone, by the way I'm really happy to see you back in Form for which you are considered..!#KKvPZ #BabarAzam #LevelHai #PSL2022 pic.twitter.com/iwmcJths7Y

— Kamran Mehmood🇵🇰 (@imkami07) February 4, 2022

Babar played 63 balls that's 10.3 overs and still couldn't finish the match,raises question marks on his match winning ability. This is where he needs to work and prove that he is not depended on the other batsmen #PSL2022

— Faysal (@FaysalAlavi) February 4, 2022

Drop Cutting, add Tom Kohler. Show bowling highlights of Shadab, Imran Tahir and Rashid khan to Usman Qadir. Give some captaincy tips to Wahab Riaz.#PSL7 #PSL2022 #HBLPSL7 #LevelHai #PzvKk #KKvPZ

— Muhammad Noman (@nomanedits) February 4, 2022

💥Highest Individual Score by a Batsman in a losing Match in PSL (2nd Inns)

*⃣ 99 Ahmed Shahzad v KK, 2019
*⃣ 91 Shadab Khan v MS, 2022
*⃣ 90* Babar Azam v PZ, (Tonight)
*⃣ 85* Babar Azam v MS, 2021
*⃣ 80 Shane Watson v MS, 2020#BabarAzam #PZvKK #PSL7

— Data Trailers Cricket (@DataTrailers) February 4, 2022

Another loss for KK
1. No timing
2. No strike rate maintained
3. No partnerships
4. Loss of wickets at crucial time
5. Lack of intent
6. Poor shots
Nothing working for #KK at the moment.
PZ done everything right tonight to win this massive game👏🏼 #KKvsPZ #PSL #PSL2022

— A.H Naqvi 🇵🇰 (@Awonhaidernaqvi) February 4, 2022

Age is 44 but batting is still young this is absolutely amazing hitting by Malik👑🔥😻#shoaibmalik #PSL7 #HBLPSL7 #KKvPZ #LevelHai #PSL2022 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/ReBBxnSulD

— Hamza Ali (@hamzaalireal) February 4, 2022

Happy to see @babarazam258 you back to flow. Great Captaincy innings. You fight at the end, next time @KarachiKingsARY.#KKvPZ #babar #BabarAzam#Pakistan #PSL7 #PSL2022 pic.twitter.com/dpqa0hb0ux

— Asfand Yar (@Asfandasfi4) February 4, 2022

Hopefully Babar fans don't make excuses like KL fans. "hE hAs tO mAkE sUrE hE sTayS tiLl tHe eNd". You have to accelerate man. #PSL7 #PSL2022

— Rikken. (@PatelRikken) February 4, 2022

Not To Worry It's Ok
Luck Is Not With Us In This Season
InshahAllah Next Time We Will Create History Of PSL
Congratulations 🎉 Advace To Winner Of PSL VII #KarachiKings #PSL7 #PSL2022 #PakistanZindabad

— Sheh Zu (@ShehZu15) February 4, 2022