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Defending champions Lahore Qalandars kept their play-off hopes in the Pakistan Super League alive with a crucial win against leaders Peshawar Zalmi in their final league-stage fixture.

The win lifted the Qalandars into fourth place, overtaking Karachi Kings on net run-rate and knocking them out of the contention for a place in the next stage.

But their play-off spot is not yet secure, with Hyderabad Kingsmen able to move level on 10 points if they defeat bottom side Rawalpindiz in their final game on Sunday.

Peshawar posted a competitive total of 199-4 batting first, led by Michael Bracewell's 83 from 45 balls and captain Babar Azam's 59.

After losing two wickets inside five overs, Babar's composed innings steadied the innings before Bracewell accelerated through the middle overs and Iftikhar Ahmed's 14-ball 27 ensured a strong finish.

In their response, Qalandars opener Fakhar Zaman scored an unbeaten 58 off 47 balls while more aggressive contributions from Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza and Daniel Sams powered them past the target with three balls remaining.

Zalmi, who suffered their first defeat of the campaign, finished top with 17 points.

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Karachi Kings boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Pakistan Super League play-offs with a commanding nine-wicket win against Quetta Gladiators in Lahore.

Chasing a target of 196, David Warner and Reeza Hendricks produced a 141-run second-wicket partnership to help the Kings finish the league stage with five wins in 10 matches.

The Kings sit fourth with 10 points - two ahead of Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen, who both have a game in hand.

Kings lost Jason Roy early after the English opener hit 20 from 15 balls, but captain Warner led from the front on his return to the squad after missing two matches because of a back strain.

The 39-year-old Australian hit 10 fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 89 from 48 balls while Hendricks struck 87 to seal the victory in 18.3 overs.

Earlier, Rilee Rossouw's 54-ball 90 and captain Saud Shakeel's 57 from 34 balls had taken the Gladiators to 195-6.

But with their seventh defeat of the campaign, their hopes of making it to the play-offs are over as they finish in seventh place with six points from 10 matches.

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Richard Gleeson led Islamabad United into the Pakistan Super League play-offs as his three-wicket haul set up a comfortable win over Hyderabad Kingsmen in Karachi.

The 38-year-old Warwickshire fast bowler dismissed both openers Maaz Sadaqat and Marnus Labuschagne as well as number three Saim Ayub to leave the Kingsmen reeling at 24-3 inside five overs, finishing with figures of 3-9.

Captain Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim maintained the pressure by taking three wickets apiece as the Kingsmen were bundled out for just 80 - the fifth lowest total in the PSL history.

Islamabad lost New Zealand's Devon Conway only two balls into the chase but Mohsin Riaz struck 42 from 18 balls to guide them to a crucial eight-wicket victory with 80 balls to spare.

Islamabad's fifth win in nine matches guaranteed their place in the play-offs and moved them third with 11 points - six points behind leaders Peshawar Zalmi and one behind Multan Sultans.

Debutants Kingsmen are fifth where they are level on eight points with Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings.

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Sanju Samson hit another exhilarating century as Chennai Super Kings piled further misery on Mumbai Indians in the IPL's 'El Clasico'.

India T20 World Cup hero Samson, who also scored a century against Delhi Capitals earlier in the competition, smashed an unbeaten 101 off just 54 balls as the visitors piled up 207-6.

Mumbai, who have lost five of their last six games, crumbled with the bat - slumping to 104 all out.

West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein did the damage, taking 4-17, including the key wickets of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma.

Mumbai slipped to 11-3 inside three overs and despite Yadav (36) and Tilak (37) offering some resistance, saw their last seven wickets fall for just 20 runs.

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David Warner anchored Karachi Kings to a crucial victory over Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League.

Ex-Australia opener Warner finished unbeaten on 63 off 44 balls as the Kings chased down the hosts' 199-6 with eight balls to spare to keep their hopes of progression alive.

While Warner was watchful, victory was sealed by Khushdil Shah, who smashed a staggering 44 not out off just 14 balls.

Khushdil hit five sixes, including two in a row to seal the victory.

Earlier, ex-England all-rounder Moeen Ali took 2-26 in the Qalandars innings then proved the perfect foil for Warner with an aggressive 39 off 17 as Pakistan bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi (0-51) and Haris Rauf (1-36) proved expensive.

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Mitchell Starc has been cleared by Cricket Australia to play in the Indian Premier League after recovering from shoulder and elbow injuries.

The 36-year-old fast bowler has not played since late January after his Ashes heroics, where he played all five Tests and took 31 wickets in Australia's 4-1 win.

He subsequently played five matches in the Big Bash League for Sydney Sixers, which is when he suffered the injuries while fielding.

Starc's first appearance for Delhi will most likely be against Rajasthan Royals on 1 May.

His fellow Australian quick Josh Hazlewood has recently returned to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru while Australian skipper Pat Cummins is expected to make his comeback for Sunrisers Hyderabad this weekend.

Cummins has been managing a back injury, having played just one Test in the Ashes in December.

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Rawalpindiz earned their first win of the PSL as they beat Islamabad United by six wickets in a low-scoring encounter.

Islamabad were bowled out for 137 with Devon Conway's 40 the highest score, while the wickets were shared around in a fine all-round performance from the Rawalpindiz bowlers.

Chris Green added a cameo of 29 from 16 balls but he was one of three wickets to fall in the final over bowled by Dian Forrester.

After eight straight defeats and with their elimination already confirmed, Rawalpindiz finally had victory in their sights with a straightforward target but they lost Abdullah Fazal from the first ball of the chase.

Kamran Ghulam and Muhammad Rizwan added 78 for the second wicket, scoring 42 and 45 respectively, to anchor the innings before New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell got them over the line with an unbeaten 32.

Islamabad remain in play-off contention in third place in the table behind Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans.

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