Islamabad United Beats Karachi Kings in the 18th match of the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) 2023 edition at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
In the 19th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight, Azam Khan hit a magnificent 72-run knock to power Islamabad United to a close six-wicket victory over Karachi Kings.
Set to chase 202, the United cruised to victory in the final over, finishing at 202/4 thanks to an incredible knock by wicketkeeper batter Azam.
The United got off to a bad start in the run chase, as Mohammad Amir struck again in his first over, giving Karachi Kings an early breakthrough in the form of Colin Munro’s dismissal, who could score 11 off five balls.
Following an early blow, Alex Hales teamed up with Rassie van der Dussen to write his team’s fate.
Before Aamer Yamin castled Alex Hales on the eve of the powerplay, the duo appeared to be in great form. He scored 34 runs in 16 deliveries, including four boundaries and two sixes.
Tabraiz Shamsi dismissed his compatriot van der Dussen in his first over and led Kings to a 69-run victory in the eighth over.
Following his slump, Azam anchored the run chase with a crucial fourth-wicket stand with Faheem Ashraf, putting his team in complete control.
The pair quickly added 125 runs before Faheem died in the 19th over due to a mix-up while running between the wickets.
The left-handed batter fell nine runs short of his half-century, scoring 41 off 32 deliveries with a boundary and two sixes.
Meanwhile, Azam batted all the way through before Asif Ali completed the chase with 10 off just two deliveries in the first two deliveries of the 20th over.
Azam led the way for the United with a quickfire 72 off 41 balls, smashing a dozen boundaries and four sixes.
Amir, Shamsi, and Yamin could all take wickets for the Kings.
Choosing to bat first, the Kings piled up a massive total against home side United in the must-win match, led by captain Imad Wasim’s 92-run knock.
Earlier, the Kings got off to a bad start when Sharjeel Khan was bowled in the third over after scoring only eight runs off six deliveries.
After an early setback, Adam Rossington and Tayyab Tahir launched a counter-attack on the United bowlers, stitching a brief but effective partnership for the second wicket, raising 37 runs in just 16 deliveries before the latter’s dismissal.
Tayyab attempted to heave Tom Curran’s length delivery but mistimed it to Hasan Ali at mid-off and walked back.
With his team losing momentum, Imad stood up for his teammates and took on the United bowlers with his aggressive hitting all over the field.
The captain put on a fantastic 99-run partnership with Irfan Khan Niazi, putting his side in complete command of the total.
Imad was the main aggressor in the fifth-wicket partnership, while Niazi held his end firm until a spectacular teamwork catch by Hasan and Rassie van der Dussen ended his crucial 20-ball 30 (four boundaries).
After Niazi was dismissed, Imad continued his onslaught with significant help from Matthew Wade, who scored 13 not out off six deliveries to propel Kings past the 200-run mark.
Imad led his team in scoring with an unbeaten 92.
Curran led the United attack with two wickets but was costly, while Rumman, Faheem, and Hasan each struck out a batter.
Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings Highlights
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