Islamabad United Beat Karachi Kings One Sided To Remain Unbeaten
KARACHI: A dominant all-round display powered defending champions Islamabad United to a convincing six-wicket win over Karachi Kings in the 10th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 129, Islamabad comfortably reached the finish line with four wickets in hand and 17 balls to spare.
Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Azam Khan provided United with a brisk start, contributing 34 runs before Farhan was dismissed by Hasan Ali after a fiery 30 off 18 balls, including five boundaries and a six. Hasan struck again in the same over to remove Colin Munro, who managed just four off as many balls, leaving United at 38/2 in the fifth over.
Captain Shadab Khan then joined Azam Khan at the crease, and the pair rebuilt the innings smartly on a challenging surface, adding a valuable 65-run partnership. Azam’s steady 31 off 30 balls, featuring three fours and a six, ended when he was bowled by Mohammad Nabi in the 14th over.
Shadab remained the mainstay of the chase, playing a composed knock of 47 off 40 deliveries, which included five fours and two sixes. He was dismissed by Abbas Afridi with just one run needed for victory. Mohammad Nawaz sealed the win with a single on the first ball of the 18th over and remained unbeaten on 8 from 12 balls.
For Karachi, Hasan Ali was the pick of the bowlers with 2/28, while Nabi and Abbas claimed a wicket each.
Earlier, Karachi Kings could only muster 128/7 after being put into bat. Their innings never gained momentum as early blows saw David Warner (3) and James Vince (4) depart within the first four overs with just 22 on the board.
Saad Baig and Tim Seifert tried to consolidate with a 39-run partnership, but Shadab broke through by removing Baig for 20 off 17 balls. Seifert, who struggled for fluency, fell for 30 off 37 with just one boundary.
Shadab struck again to dismiss Irfan Khan (5), while Naseem Shah removed Khushdil Shah (17 off 23), adding to the Kings’ woes. Jason Holder then got into the act, bouncing out Aamir Jamal for a duck as the Kings slumped to 102/7.
Abbas Afridi’s late blitz – a 24-run cameo off just nine balls, including a four and three sixes – lifted Karachi to a somewhat respectable total.
For United, the bowling unit shared the spoils with Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, and Jason Holder bagging two wickets apiece, while Imad Wasim chipped in with one.
With this win, Islamabad United maintained their unbeaten run in PSL 10, sitting comfortably at the top of the table with eight points from four games. Karachi Kings remained in third place with four points.
