At Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday night, Islamabad United defeated Karachi Kings by five wickets as a result of a gritty effort with the bat and with the ball. By defeating the mighty Karachi Kings for the eighth time in a row, United also made history in the PSL by being the team with the most wins in a row against a single team.
Pitch report and toss update
The surface of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is ideal for batting since the ball falls onto the bat with ease. In the past, stroke players have performed admirably here.
This surface was two-paced, and spinners had expected to get greater success because of the turn and bounce that were present, but fast bowlers must have mixed their line well to succeed. So, Islamabad United won the toss and elected to field first.
Karachi Kings got off to a sluggish start
The opening combination of Tim Seifert and Shan Masood for the Kings got off to a solid start, scoring 34 runs until Faheem broke it in the fifth over. Shan maintained his lean form in the PSL 9 when he top-edged a length ball to Faheem, which was brilliantly caught by Imad Wasim.
Following a 38-1 score for the Kings during the powerplay, Faheem came back to dismiss Seifert, who had quickly reached 26 off 19 balls with five boundaries, in the seventh over courtesy of an amazing catch by Munro at the deep cover boundary. After eight overs, with Karachi Kings trailing 45-3, experienced batsman Shoaib Malik failed to get off the blocks and misjudged one off Imad’s bowling for a meager six balls.
After rejoining the United team in place of Naseem Shah, Tymal Mills dismissed Mohammad Nawaz with his second delivery of the spell.
After coming together in the ninth over, James Vince and Kieron Pollard scored 58 runs off of just 33 balls, providing some stability to the Kings innings.
Kieron Pollard innings led the Kings to a fighting total
Pollard smashed Shadab, hitting him for three sixes in two overs, and in the fourteenth over, Vince blasted Mills for three straight boundaries. Vince scored 29 runs with five boundaries, but Mills exacted his revenge on the next ball.
Returning to finish his four overs allotted, Faheem bowled two economical overs in the 15th and 17th innings, giving up just nine runs and completing his four-over spell at a cost of just 16 runs. Three boundaries and as many sixes later, Hunain Shah removed Pollard for 39 off 28 balls in the 17th over. In the subsequent over, Muhammad Irfan Khan trailed Pollard as Mills outwitted him.
Karachi battled to reach 150-7 in the given 20 overs. Three wickets were taken by Mills. Imad and Hunain each took one wicket, while Faheem produced two wickets.
Shadab Khan and Agha Salman put up a partnership after a couple of wickets
Islamabad United’s opening batsmen put on a 28-run opening partnership while chasing an achievable total of 151. However, Mir Hamza took the first wicket for the Kings, getting out Colin Munro and then Alex Hales, who was considered an important scalp.
Islamabad United, with Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan in the middle, scored 47 runs in the powerplay while losing two wickets. Both players kept the scoreboard moving, and at the halfway point, United needed to score 73 runs off 60 balls.
When Muzarabani bowled the 13th over, Salman was caught behind for 33 off 30 balls, including a boundary and a six, ending the 58-run third-wicket partnership.
Haider Ali and Faheem Ashraf led the Islamabad United to a comfortable win
In the 15th over, Zahid Mahmood made an easy return catch that stunned Islamabad United yet again as Azam returned for a paltry nine off eight balls. Islamabad United needed just 36 runs in the final five overs, but Hamza dismissed captain Shadab, and Seifert pouted another catch. Faheem Ashraf made his presence known by blasting a massive six to the crease.
With an undefeated 36-run partnership between the sixth and seventh wickets, Haider Ali and Faheem successfully rescued Islamabad United. Haider scored a smooth, unbeaten 26 off 16 balls with two fours and a six, setting up the winning runs in the penultimate over. Three wickets were claimed by Hamza, while Muzarabani and Zahid each claimed one wicket.
Islamabad United, captained by Shadab Khan, is currently positioned second on the points table with nine points, ahead of Gladiators and Zalmi due to better net run rate. Kings are positioned fifth with six points.
Also Read: ISU vs LHQ: 3 Reasons Why Shadab Khan Led Islamabad United Lost The Match Against Lahore Qalandars