Twitter Reactions: Karachi Kings snap losing streak with big win over defending champions Lahore Qalandars

Karachi Kings ended their poor run of form with a dominant 67-run win over reigning champions Lahore Qalandars in the eighth match of the Pakistan Super League 2023 on Sunday (February 19). After losing the opening three games by narrow margins, Kings posted another big total of 185/5 while batting first.

But this time, the bowlers managed to defend the total with pacer Akif Javed taking four wickets against his former team and bowled out the champions for just 118 runs to earn their first win of the season.

Shaheen Afridi won the toss and elected to bowl first with no changes to the playing XI that beat Multan Sultans in the tournament's opening game. Kings made two changes to their team which suffered a six-run defeat to Gladiators yesterday. For Kings, Ben Cutting came in for Sharjeel Khan and youngster Akif Javed replaced pacer Andrew Tye.

Matthew Wade and James Vince gave Kings a good start with a 70-run partnership for the first wicket. Wade scored 36 off 24 before getting run out on Kamran Ghulam's throw in the eighth over. Vince kept the scoreboard moving from another end with small but crucial stands with Haider Ali and Shoaib Malik.

Zaman Khan clean bowled Vince on 46 in the 14th over to give Qalandars a chance to contain Kings from posting a big total. But skipper Imad Wasim played a captain's knock by smashing 35* off 19 to help Kings score a big total.

Qalandars started well in their chase with Fakhar Zaman and Mirza Baig putting in a 40-run partnership for the opening wicket. Aamer Yamin gave Kings an opening with Zaman's wicket and Mohammad Amir dismissed Shai Hope for just one run to put Kings in the driving seat.

But Baig and Kamran Ghulam balanced the game again with a 41-run stand for the third wicket. But it didn't last long as debutant Akif Javed dismissed both batters in quick succession to keep Kings on track for a big win. Baig top-scored with 45 off 39 while Ghulam added 23 off 22.

The Qalandars' innings collapsed like a house of cards from 86/2 to 118/10 in just 17.3 overs. Akif dismissed Liam Dawson and Zaman Khan in the 18th over to guide his team to an impressive 67-run win. Akif took four wickets on his debut for Kings while Cutting and Yamin bagged two each.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Karachi Kings' triumph over Lahore Qalandars in PSL 2023, match 8: