United Climb to 2nd Place with Key Victory Over Kings – Pakistan Super League

March 8, 2024

United Climb to 2nd Place with Key Victory Over Kings – Pakistan Super League

Credit to Pakistan Super League Image Gallery

Following a determined effort with both bat and ball, Islamabad United clinched a crucial five-wicket victory over Karachi Kings on Thursday night at Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

This win marked a record for United, as they became the franchise with the most consecutive victories against a single opponent in HBL PSL history, having defeated the Kings eight times in a row.

Under Shadab Khan’s leadership, United has risen to second place in the points table with nine points, surpassing Gladiators and Zalmi on net run rate. Meanwhile, the Kings remain in fifth place with six points.

Chasing a modest target of 151, United’s openers set the stage with a 28-run partnership before Mir Hamza struck for the Kings, dismissing Colin Munro (9 off 11 balls, with two fours) and later claiming the critical wicket of Alex Hales (18 off 13 balls, with two fours and 1 six).

Islamabad scored 47 runs during the powerplay, losing two wickets, with Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan stabilizing the innings. By the halfway mark, United needed 73 runs from 60 balls.

In the 13th over, Blessing Muzarabani broke the 58-run third-wicket stand by getting Salman behind for 33 off 30 balls, including a boundary and a six. Zahid Mahmood further disrupted United’s chase in the 15th over, taking a straightforward return catch to dismiss Azam for a modest nine off eight balls.

With only 36 runs needed from the final five overs, Hamza dismissed captain Shadab (34 off 26 balls, with four fours), as Seifert took another catch. Faheem Ashraf made a significant impact, launching a towering six upon his arrival.

Haider Ali and Faheem Ashraf forged an unbroken 36-run partnership for the sixth wicket, guiding United to victory. In excellent form, Haider struck the winning runs in the penultimate over, finishing with a stylish unbeaten 26 off 16 balls, including two fours and a six.

Faheem, named Player of the Match for his outstanding contributions with both bat and ball, remained unbeaten on 12 off eight balls. United secured a vital win by five wickets with eight balls to spare. Hamza took three wickets, while Muzarabani and Zahid each claimed one.

Islamabad United won the toss and chose to field first, prompting Karachi Kings to bat. The opening duo of Shan Masood and Tim Seifert established a solid start with a 34-run partnership before Faheem Ashraf dismissed Masood in the fifth over.

Shan struggled in HBL PSL 9 as he top-edged a delivery from Faheem, with Imad Wasim taking a sharp catch.

After the Kings posted 38-1 in the powerplay, Faheem returned to remove Seifert, who had scored 26 off 19 balls with five boundaries. Seifert’s wicket came in the seventh over, thanks to a spectacular catch by Colin Munro at deep cover.

Veteran batsman Shoaib Malik struggled to find his rhythm and skied a delivery from Imad Wasim, departing for a mere one run off six balls. This left Karachi Kings at 45-3 after eight overs. Tymal Mills, returning to the United side instead of Naseem Shah, struck on just the second ball of his spell, dismissing Mohammad Nawaz for five off three balls, including one boundary.

In the ninth over, James Vince and Kieron Pollard steadied the Kings’ innings with a robust 58-run fifth-wicket partnership off only 33 balls.

Pollard dismantled Shadab Khan, smashing three sixes over two overs, while Vince hit Mills for three consecutive boundaries in the 14th over. However, Mills exacted revenge on the next ball, dismissing Vince for 29, which included five boundaries.

Faheem Ashraf returned to complete his four-over spell, delivering two economical overs in the 15th and 17th innings, conceding just nine runs and finishing his spell with 16 runs.

In the 17th over, Hunain Shah dismissed Kieron Pollard for 39 off 28 balls, featuring three boundaries and three sixes. Muhammad Irfan Khan (16 off 13 balls, including 1 four and 1 six) followed Pollard’s dismissal in the next over, as Mills took his wicket.

Karachi Kings reached 150-7 by the end of their innings. Mills claimed three wickets, Faheem added two, and Imad Wasim and Hunain Shah took one wicket each.

Match Summary

Islamabad United defeated Karachi Kings by five wickets. Karachi Kings scored 150-7 in 20 overs, with notable contributions from Kieron Pollard (39) and James Vince (29). Tymal Mills took three wickets for 34 runs, while Faheem Ashraf claimed 2 for 16.

Islamabad United chased down the target, reaching 151-5 in 18.4 overs. Shadab Khan scored 34, Salman Ali Agha added 33, and Haider Ali remained unbeaten on 26. Mir Hamza took three wickets for 41 runs.

Player of the Match: Faheem Ashraf (Islamabad United)

Next Fixture: Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi (7 PM)

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.