RAWALPINDI: A commanding all-round performance saw Islamabad United cruise to a resounding victory over Karachi Kings in the final league fixture of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Chasing a formidable target of 252, Karachi Kings’ batting line-up collapsed to 172 all out in 18.2 overs.
This emphatic win allowed Islamabad United to snap their losing streak and climb to second place on the PSL 10 points table. They are now level on 12 points with Karachi Kings but edge ahead owing to a superior Net Run Rate (NRR).
In response, Karachi’s opening duo, Tim Seifert and David Warner, got their side off to a rapid start with a 56-run partnership in just 5.2 overs.
Earlier, blistering innings from Sahibzada Farhan and Alex Hales powered Islamabad United to an imposing total against Karachi Kings.
Opting to bat first, United racked up 251 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Crucial partnership
The new opening combination of Hales and Farhan laid the foundation with a destructive 153-run stand in just 11.3 overs.
Both batters dismantled the Kings’ bowling attack, with United reaching 76 without loss in the powerplay. Hales, featuring in his first match of the season, showed no signs of rust, while Farhan maintained his impressive form throughout the tournament.
Farhan brought up his 20th T20 fifty late in the eighth over, having struck eight boundaries and a six. Meanwhile, Hales kept up the aggression at the other end.
United plundered 44 runs across the 10th and 11th overs, reaching 150 without loss.
Just as Karachi seemed out of ideas, Mir Hamza broke through, dismissing the dangerous Farhan for a superb 73 off 41 balls, which included nine fours and three towering sixes.
Losing wickets
Despite picking up the wickets of Rassie van der Dussen (1) and Agha Salman (7) in back-to-back overs, Karachi were unable to stem the flow of runs.
With United at 171-2, captain Shadab Khan joined Hales for a brief but explosive partnership. Hales eventually fell in the 17th over after a scintillating 88 off just 35 balls, featuring six fours and eight sixes.
Shadab Khan then teamed up with Haider Ali to further boost the total in the death overs. Shadab was run out in the penultimate over after a fiery 42 off 19 balls at a strike rate of 221.
United ended their innings on a high, reaching 251 after adding 17 runs in the final over.
For Karachi Kings, Mir Hamza, Khushdil Shah, and Aamer Jamal claimed a wicket apiece.
