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KARACHI: Islamabad United maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament with a convincing six-wicket victory over Karachi Kings in the 10th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at National Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a meagre total of 129 runs, the defending champions knocked the winning runs comfortably, losing three wickets in the process with 17 balls to spare.
Islamabad United were off to a good start in pursuit of the target, posting 34 runs in four overs. The stand between Azam Khan and Sahibzada Farhan came to an end with the latter’s dismissal.
Sahibzada Farhan, the leading run-scorer in PSL 10, was caught after scoring 31 off 18 deliveries, an innings featuring five fours and one six. Colin Munro (4) was also dismissed in the same over, providing Karachi Kings a glimmer of hope.
However, the promoted opener Azam Khan remained firm at one end, forging a 65-run stand with Shadab Khan. Azam struck three fours and one towering six in his gutsy 31 off 30 deliveries.
Player of the Match Shadab Khan top-scored with 47 off 40 balls, laced with five fours and two sixes.
For Karachi Kings, Hasan Ali remained the stand-out bowler, taking two for 28 in his four overs while both Abbas Afridi and Mohammad Nabi claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, Abbas Afridi’s late blitz took Karachi Kings to a fighting total against Islamabad United.
Islamabad United’s captain, Shadab Khan, won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that proved beneficial as they restricted the Karachi Kings to 128 runs in their 20 overs.
The defending champions jolted the Kings with early wickets in bowler-friendly conditions. Naseem Shah led the attack, dismissing the Kings’ skipper, David Warner, for just 3 runs in the second over with a beautiful delivery. The in-form batter James Vince also went early in the third over, scoring only 4 runs.
Following the early hiccup, opener Tim Seifert and emerging batter Saad Baig forged a brief partnership of 39 runs, taking the score to 61 in nine overs. The stand ended with Baig’s dismissal, who fell prey to Shadab Khan.
The left-hander managed to score 20 off 17 deliveries with the help of four boundaries. Tim Seifert, scratchy innings came to an end as he was caught and bowled by Imad Wasim. The right-hander battled through his 30 off 37 deliveries, featuring only one four.
The undefeated side in the PSL 10 applied consistent pressure, taking wickets at regular intervals. The Kings’ middle-order batters, Khushdil Shah (17) and Irfan Khan (5) struggled in testing conditions, and were removed cheaply in quick succession.
The home team was once reeling at 102-7 in 18 overs, before Abbas Afridi’s late blitz took them to a fighting total. The all-rounder smashed three sixes in his nine-ball 24, Karachi Kings accumulated 26 runs in the last two overs of the innings, lifting them to 128 in 20 overs.
For Islamabad United, Naseem Shah, Jason Holder, and Shadab Khan each took two wickets in an impressive bowling display.
PLAYING XIs
Islamabad United: Sahibzada Farhan, Azam Khan (wk), Colin Munro, Haider Ali, Shadab Khan (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Jason Holder, Muhammad Shahzad, Imad Wasim, Ben Dwarshuis, Naseem Shah
Karachi Kings: Tim Seifert (wk), David Warner (c), James Vince, Saad Baig, Khushdil Shah, Irfan Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Aamer Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza
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