Daily Times

Karachi Kings defeated Islamabad United by five wickets in their HBL Pakistan Super League5 (PSL) match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here on Sunday. Chasing a victory target of 184 runs, Karachi raced home for the loss of five scalps with eight balls to spare. The main contributors for the winners were Alex Hales, Sharjeel Khan, Cameron Delport and captain Imad Wasim. This was Karachi’s second win in four games which now leaves them with four points. The Imad-led side lost their first player in the very first over, when Babar Azam was run out by Shadab Khan on a ball by Dale Steyn. Sharjeel contributed 38 runs from 20 balls and was caught by wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi off Rumman Raees in the sixth over. In the 13th over, Delport (38 off 28) was dismissed in a similar fashion, caught by Ronchi off Steyn. Player of the match Hales made 52 off 30 balls before he was sent to the dugout when he was stumped by Ronchi on a ball by Ahmed Safi Abdullah. Hales hit three fours and as many sixes in his knock. Iftikhar Ahmed was run out by Rizwan Hussain through a direct hit. Skipper Imad (32) and Chadwick Walton (23) saw Karachi home with eight balls to spare with an unbroken 48 run sixth wicket partnership. Faheem Ashraf had a nightmarish match with the ball as he conceded 47 runs in 2.4 overs, with Imad setting the game by depositing him for back-to-back sixes in the 19th over and Walton hitting the match winning boundary of him a run later.

Earlier, Karachi opted to field first after winning the toss. Islamabad were well served by opener Ronchi who remained unbeaten with 85 off 58 balls. The wicketkeeper batsman struck nine fours and two sixes in his innings. Ronchi added 106 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket partnership with Shadab who stroked 54 off 31 balls with the help of four sixes and three fours. Shadab joined Ronchi at the fall of Colin Ingram (16)’s wicket with Islamabad placed at 77 for three at the completion of 10 overs. Shadab completed his half-century on the last ball of the United innings when he deposited Umaid Asif’s delivery into the stands. For Karachi left-arm-spinner Umer Khan who dismissed Rizwan Hussain (22) was the pick of the bowlers with figures of one for 24 in four overs.

Scores in brief

Islamabad United 183 for 3, 20 overs (Luke Ronchi 85 not out, Shadab Khan 54 not out; Umer Khan 1-24, Imad Wasim 1-31) VS Karachi Kings 187 for 5, 18.4 overs (Alex Hales 52, Sharjeel Khan 38, Cameron Delport 38; Ahmed Safi 1-21, Rumman Raees 1-27)

Result: Karachi Kings won by five wickets.