Karachi Kings captain David Warner credited experience, smart planning, and explosive finishing as the key factors in his side's 23-run win over Peshawar Zalmi, a result that sealed their place in the playoffs of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

Speaking after being named Player of the Match for his 86 off 50 balls, Warner said the game plan was clear from the toss.

"As I said at the toss, we wanted to bat first," Warner remarked. "After the first wicket, it was about assessing the conditions. Early on, me and James [Vince] knew it was a good wicket, so we just played normal cricketing shots. With the experience both of us bring, we knew if we stayed for around 10 overs, we could try and back-end it."

Warner and Vince combined for a 162-run partnership off 89 balls for the second wicket, laying the foundation for a massive total. Though Warner admitted they left "a little bit out there," he was all praise for the finishing act.

"The way Khushdil [Shah] and [Mohammad] Nabi came out and finished it off was amazing," he said, referring to the duo's 70-run stand off just 24 balls that powered Kings to 237-4.

Reflecting on his own form and mindset, David Warner joked about the advantage of being "old" in cricketing terms.

"The best thing about being old [chuckles] is that you've played a lot of games," he further stated. "I think it's about playing the game in front of you. When you're batting in the top order, you have time on your side. For us, it was all about building a partnership and momentum to set things up for the backend."

Warner also hailed his bowlers, particularly Mir Hamza and Hasan Ali, for delivering under pressure.

"Mir Hamza is our strike bowler. We want him to swing the ball up front, and he does exactly what I ask. He's been exceptional in the powerplay. Hasan Ali just brings so much energy, and the knowledge he has of the game is phenomenal," he said.

Self-improvement

Khushdil Shah shared that his match-winning knock against Peshawar Zalmi was the result of two years of focused self-improvement and hard work.

Karachi Kings stormed into the playoffs of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 with a dominant 23-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi on Saturday.

The highlight of the match was a blistering unbeaten 43 off just 15 balls from Khushdil Shah, who, alongside Mohammad Nabi (26* off 10), stitched together a game-changing 70-run stand in just 24 balls to take Kings to an imposing 237-4.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Khushdil reflected on the break in the tournament and how the team stayed focused during that period.

"Yes, there was a break, but we ensured our practice and training continued. During the gap, we kept ourselves prepared for the resumption," he said.

Khushdil Shah, often under scrutiny for his supposed weakness against short-pitched and outside off-stump deliveries, was asked about his evident improvement and fluency in this PSL season. He revealed how he worked on his perceived weaknesses and trained to adapt to various match situations.

"When I was dropped from the national team, I knew I had to fix what was holding me back," Khushdil said. "Previously, I used to bat only in the last two or three overs, where the situation demands immediate hitting. That affected my rhythm and mindset."

"So after being dropped, I decided to seriously work on my weaknesses and trained myself to play longer innings, because often top-order collapses mean you have to bat earlier. I realised that I needed to prepare myself for all kinds of situations and improve every aspect of my batting."

He added that he consciously focused on shot-making across the ground and adapting to different situations.

"It's not that I'm weak against short balls. In fact, in the death overs, bowlers rarely go short—that's often the easiest delivery to put away," he further stated. "Sometimes you mistime it, sometimes you score, sometimes you don't. I've spent the last two years working hard on my batting, and all my focus has been on improving myself."

When asked about attacking young Pakistani pacers Ali Raza and Ahmed Daniyal, who bowled the crucial final two overs, Khushdil Shah downplayed any notion of ease.

With this win, Karachi Kings sealed their place in the playoffs and sent a strong message to the remaining contenders. The team will now look to carry their momentum forward and continue their charge for their second PSL title.