In a display of dominance, Islamabad United secured their seventh consecutive victory against Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024. The match marked four years since Karachi last triumphed over Islamabad in the league. Islamabad’s win came as a much-needed boost, as they had previously struggled with just one victory from four games, placing them second last on the table.
Opting to bowl first at the National Stadium, Islamabad United restricted Karachi Kings to 165/5. Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten 48 off 28 deliveries played a pivotal role in Karachi’s innings, supported by Irfan Khan’s 27* off 22. However, the rest of Karachi’s batting lineup failed to make significant contributions. Notable bowling performances from Salman Ali Agha (1/17 in 2 overs) and Imad Wasim (1/20 in 4 overs) helped Islamabad limit Karachi’s total.
In response, Islamabad’s Colin Munro stole the show with a brilliant knock of 82 runs off just 47 balls, guiding his team to victory. Contributions from Alex Hales (47 off 35) and Salman Ali Agha (25* off 17) further strengthened Islamabad’s chase. Karachi’s bowlers, including Mohammad Nawaz, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Hasan Ali, managed to take a wicket each but struggled to contain Islamabad’s batsmen, conceding 23, 34, and 42 runs respectively.
Not only did Islamabad United secure victory by seven wickets, but they also achieved the feat with nine balls to spare, underlining their dominance in the encounter. This win significantly improves Islamabad’s position in the PSL 2024 standings as they have replaced the Kings in fourth place. Meanwhile, Karachi Kings, who now have two wins and two losses from four games, will be looking to bounce back from this defeat in their upcoming matches.
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