LAHORE: Islamabad United, Hyderabad Kingsmen, Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings are locked in a tense four-way fight for the remaining two play-off positions in the Pakistan Super League following Thursday’s matches.

In the afternoon match in Karachi, Rawalpindiz gate-crashed Islamabad United’s party by ending their eight-match losing streak with a six-wicket victory. Had United won, they would have moved to 11 points and sealed a play-off place behind Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans. Instead, the three-time champions must beat Hyderabad Kingsmen on Friday to secure a top-four place. A defeat would leave them needing to beat Multan Sultans in their final league match on Sunday.

Later under lights in Lahore, Karachi Kings kept their play-off hopes alive by chasing down Lahore Qalandars’ 199 with five wickets and eight balls to spare. The result left Karachi Kings level with Lahore Qalandars on eight points, each with one match remaining. Both sides must win their final league matches — Kings against Quetta Gladiators and Qalandars against Peshawar Zalmi — to remain in contention.

In the most complex scenario — both Qalandars and Kings losing on Saturday, Hyderabad Kingsmen losing to Islamabad United and Rawalpindiz, and Islamabad beating Kingsmen and Multan Sultans — United would qualify for the April 28 Qualifier against Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Sultans would finish third and net run-rate would decide which of Kingsmen, Qalandars and Kings complete the play-off lineup.

RAWALPINDIZ END WIN DROUGHT

Rawalpindiz surprised Islamabad United by six wickets. Put in to bat, United managed only 137 all out in 20 overs with opener Devon Conway top-scoring with a 33-ball 40. Chris Green’s 16-ball 29 and Mark Chapman’s 18-ball 23 added some respectability to the total.

For Rawalpindiz, Dian Forrester, Mohammad Amir and Saad Masood took two wickets each.

In reply, Rawalpindiz reached 140 for four in 18.1 overs with captain Mohammad Rizwan scoring 45 off 38 balls — his highest score of the competition. Rizwan put on 78 for the second wicket off 56 balls with Kamran Ghulam (42) before Rawalpindiz slipped to 99 for four. Daryl Mitchell (32 not out) and Dian Forrester (13 not out) then added 41 for the unfinished fifth wicket to see their side home.

KINGS OVERPOWER QALANDARS

Khushdil Shah hit a quickfire 14-ball 44 not out with two fours and five sixes as Karachi Kings comfortably chased down the 200-run target with five wickets and eight balls to spare. Khushdil added 57 for the unbroken sixth wicket with captain David Warner, who returned unbeaten on 63 off 44 balls with nine fours and a six.

Warner was also involved in a 58-run fourth-wicket stand off 32 balls with Moeen Ali, who scored a 17-ball 39 with one four and four sixes.

For Qalandars, Ubaid Shah was the standout bowler with three for 41.

Earlier, Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique put on 110 for the second wicket off 62 balls to lay the foundation of Qalandars’ 199 for six. Fakhar scored 61 off 41 balls with five fours and three sixes, while Abdullah scored 62 off 32 balls with five fours and three sixes.

For Kings, Moeen Ali took two for 26.

Scores in brief:

Match 34 – Rawalpindiz beat Islamabad United by six wickets, Karachi

ISLAMABAD UNITED 137 all-out, 20 overs (Devon Conway 40, Chris Green 29, Mark Chapman 23, Faheem Ashraf 11; Dian Forrester 2-9, Mohammad Amir 2-21, Saad Masood 2-27)

RAWALPINDIZ – 140-4, 18.1 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 45, Kamran Ghulam 42, Daryl Mitchell 32 not out

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Mohammad Rizwan (Rawalpindiz)

Match 35 – Karachi Kings beat Lahore Qalandars by five wickets, Lahore

LAHORE QALANDARS 199-6, 20 overs (Abdullah Shafique 62, Fakhar Zaman 61, Daniel Sams 20, Mohammad Farooq 18, Sikandar Raza 18 not out, Shaheen Shah Afridi 10; Moeen Ali 2-26)

KARACHI KINGS 203-5, 18.4 overs (David Warner 63 not out, Khushdil Shah 44 not out, Moeen Ali 39, Salman Ali Agha 14, Azam Khan 14, Reeza Hendricks 10; Ubaid Shah 3-41)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Khushdil Shah (Karachi Kings)

FRIDAY’S FIXTURE: Hyderabad Kingsmen v Islamabad United, Lahore

SATURDAY’S FIXTURE: Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators, Lahore; Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore

SUNDAY’S FIXTURES: Hyderabad Kingsmen v Rawalpindiz, Karachi; Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Lahore.