KARACHI: Islamabad United batters Colin Munro and Azam Khan bolstered the touring side to seal a comprehensive four-wicket victory over Karachi Kings in the fourth match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.
Set to chase 174, Islamabad United completed the run chase in the 19th over for the loss of six wickets with Munro leading the way for the visitors with a brisk half-century.
Earlier, the United had a dismal start to the run chase as the side lost both their openers Hassan Nawaz (7) and Paul Stirling (4) for a combined score of mere 21 runs in the fifth over.
Following the slump, Munro anchored the run chase with a gritty 59-run partnership with Rassie van der Dussen (31) before the latter perished in the 10th over to Kings’ skipper Imad Wasim.
Munro then put on yet another vital partnership with wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan and put the United in command as the pair raised 56 runs in just 32 deliveries before a mix-up between the wicket resulted in Munro walking back to the pavilion.
The left-handed batter top-scored for the United with 58 off 28 deliveries including five boundaries and four sixes.
Azam, on the other hand, kept United in control with belligerent hitting before finally perishing in the 16th over after scoring a 28-ball 44 that featured six boundaries and a six.
Faheem Ashraf’s cameo of 14 runs after Azam’s dismissal and Tom Curran’s unbeaten 10 made sure the United sailed through in their first match of the PSL 8.
Mohammad Amir and Muhammad Musa bagged two wickets each for the Kings, while Imad could make one scalp.
Put into bat first, the Kings accumulated a mammoth 173/7 in their allotted 20 overs at the back of a magnificent half-century by Haider Ali.
The home side got off to a shaky start as they lost their opener James Vince (4) cheaply for a mere five runs in the first over.
Following the early setback, Haider put on a gritty second-wicket partnership with Sharjeel Khan and anchored the innings.
The duo added 77 runs for the stand before Curran removed Sharjeel to hand United a much-needed breakthrough. The left-handed batter scored 34 off 26 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and a six.
Haider, on the other hand, continued to dominate the United bowlers and soon brought up his fifty in 38 deliveries amid his vital partnership with Matthew Wade (18) for the third wicket.
The right-handed young batter then could not manage to stretch his outstanding knock and fell victim to Faheem Ashraf in the 15th over.
He top-scored for the Kings with 59 off 45 balls, laced with seven boundaries and two sixes.
Haider’s dismissal triggered a frustrating collapse which resulted in the Kings slipping to 125/5 in the 16th over.
The brief collapse, however, did not bother the Kings’ march towards a competitive total as the side managed to raise a decent total on the board; courtesy of significant cameos from Irfan Khan Niazi (19) and James Fuller (12) at the death.
For the United, Rumman Raees, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Curran bagged two wickets each while Faheem could pick one.
