In the 19th game of the eighth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Friday, Islamabad United defeated Karachi Kings by six wickets.
Azam managed to stay unbeaten for 72 runs in 41 balls while chasing a 202-run target, helping United get home in 19.2 overs. Rassie van der Dussen and Alex Hales added 50 runs in 30 balls for the second wicket to keep the United on track during the run-chase after losing Colin Munro, who had scored 11 runs in five balls, in the first over. The United were reduced to 69-3 in 7.2 overs when Hales and Dussen fell quickly after scoring 34 and 22 runs, respectively.
Azam Khan and Faheem Ashraf put together an outstanding century partnership at this point—124 runs in 69 balls—to keep the United in command of the run chase. In the final over of the innings, Asif Ali hit a six and a four to end the run-chase. Wasim shone earlier as Karachi Kings gave United a challenging 202-run target. The Kings’ captain scored 92 runs in 54 balls while smashing the ball all over the field. The Kings scored 61 runs in the powerplay after electing to bat first, but three wickets were lost in the process. After being cleaned up by Rumman, Sharjeel Khan (8), who had returned to the team, was the first to be dismissed.
Tayyab Tahir was the second Karachi batter to go back to the hut after playing a brief cameo of 19 runs in eight balls. Tom Curran was the successful bowler on this occasion.
Adam Rossington was dismissed after mistiming a slower ball from Hasan Ali. He scored 20 runs in 16 balls.
Veteran batter Shoaib Malik was sent packing by Ashraf after a ball went in between his bat and pad while trying to play a drive.
At this stage, captain Wasim took control of the innings and added 99 runs, while consuming 56 balls, for the fifth wicket with Irfan Khan.
The partnership was broken after a brilliant relay catch near the boundary line, when Hasan Ali went across to his left, while falling over the rope, and flicked the ball out of his hand to Rassie van der Dussen coming across from long-off.
The impressive fielding display led to Irfan’s departure, who scored 30 runs in 20 balls.
For the United, Tom Curran claimed two wickets but conceded 43 runs in his four overs.
Teams;
Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Rassie van der Dussen, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Tom Curran, Hasan Ali, Mubasir Khan, Rumman Raees
Karachi Kings: Matthew Wade, Adam Rossington (wk), Sharjeel Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Shoaib Malik, Irfan Khan, Imad Wasim (c), Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Andrew Tye, Tabraiz Shamsi
