At National Bank Stadium on Wednesday night, Islamabad United defeated Karachi Kings by seven wickets to win their second tournament match. In the first encounter of the PSL 9 Karachi leg, Islamabad defeated the home team by successfully chasing their target of 166 courtesy to a quick half-century by player of the match Colin Munro.
Pitch report and toss update
With an average first-inning score of 190, the National Stadium pitch is well-known for providing batting-friendly conditions and an easy going pace for the batters. Islamabad United chose to bowl first after winning the toss.
Karachi Kings kept losing wickets at regular intervals
Tim Seifert made his PSL debut, and Karachi Kings captain Shan Masood opened the innings. The latter was stumped by Imad Wasim’s bowling after he could only muster eight off nine, including one six.
By the time the powerplay ended, Karachi was up 46-1. Shan and Leus du Plooy, the other debutant in the Karachi lineup, combined for a 40-run partnership for the second wicket to start the scoring. Salman Ali Agha ended the partnership in the eighth over, getting rid of du Plooy for 24 on 15 and hitting four boundaries.
On the penultimate delivery of the over, Hunain Shah, who was brought on to the attack in the 10th over, struck Shan’s off-stump. After hitting three boundaries and scoring 27 from 30 balls, the Karachi skipper was forced to return to the pavilion. Azam ran out Shoaib Malik in the next over, bringing Karachi to 73-4 in 10.1 overs.
Keiron Pollard’s cameo helped the Karachi Kings to put a fighting total
Trouble increased when Naseem Shah was brought back into the attack to bowl the 14th over, and Shadab caught Mohammad Nawaz off his bowling. In the final six overs, Kieron Pollard (48*) and Muhammad Irfan Khan (27*) fought together in the middle to save Karachi.
With 76 runs off of 42 deliveries, their undefeated sixth-wicket stand made sure the team finished with a respectable 165-5. The final four overs produced 62 runs; in the 19th over, Irfan hit three straight boundaries off Rumman Raees, and in the final over, Hunain let up a maximum to Pollard.
Pollard and Irfan ran four on the last delivery, which came after Shadab and Alex Hales clashed in the field while attempting to keep the ball in. Salman, Naseem, Imad, and Hunain each claimed one wicket for Islamabad United.
Hales and Munro’s partnership gave solid start to the Islamabad United
Hales and Colin Munro put Islamabad United ahead with a 108-run opening partnership as they pursued a total of 166. With three boundaries in the third over and nine altogether during the field restrictions, the two challenged Karachi’s bowling right away.
As a result, Islamabad United ended the powerplay with 58 runs without a loss. Munro, who reached his 11th PSL and 66th T20 career half-century, hit three straight sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi, who was put in to bowl the eighth over.
Hasan Ali claimed his 100th PSL wicket when Hales was caught at deep midwicket in the 12th over. After Wahab Riaz, the right-arm seamer is just the second bowler to achieve the renowned milestone.
Shadab and Salman easily got the Islamabad United over the line
Following seven fours, the Islamabad United opener had to settle for 47 on 35 after being denied a half-century. After the first wicket fell, Islamabad’s innings went slowly.
Munro (82) was leg-before by Nawaz shortly after, and Imad, the next batter, was caught by Shan off Shamsi for a two-ball duck. With just 27 needed to win, skipper Shadab (10*) joined Salman (25*) at the crease in the 16th over.
With two straight sixes, Salman put an end to the match for Islamabad United, as the 19th over saw the target easily reached with seven wickets taken. Each of Hasan, Nawaz, and Shamsi claimed a wicket for the Kings.
