Pakistan Super League, 2nd Qualifying Final: Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings
Wickets dropped like flies for Islamabad United who were set a 127-run target by the Karachi Kings during Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoffs at Sharjah. Karachi have qualified for the last playoff.
The flurry of wickets – courtesy leg spinner Imad Wasim, Muhammad Amir and Usama Mir who took three each – left Islamabad at a disappointing 82 all out, 45 runs short of their target.
The innings kicked off with a stunning upset as Dwayne Smith was caught out early by Kings captain and wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara off a delivery by Amir, who then went on to bowl BJ Haddin.
Leg spinner Imad Wasim bowled United skipper Misbah-ul-Haq at the beginning of the 9th over and Shane Watson at the end of the 11th over. He returned to take Nicholas Pooran’s wicket.
Usama Mir got Shadab Khan, Asif Ali and Muhammad Sami out. Sohail Khan clean bowled Amad Butt.
Karachi Kings inning
The Karachi Kings racked up a sluggish 126 runs with all out against Islamabad United during the Pakistan Super League playoffs at Sharjah on Wednesday.
Islamabad United won the toss and opted to field as the 22nd match of the season went underway.
Wickets fell like dominoes for the Kings during the last 5 overs of the match, with Ravi Bopara, Shoaib Malik, Usman Khan, Sohail Khan, Imad Wasim taken out by United.
Babar Azam and Malik both scored 25 runs each, the highest scores this innings by Kings batsmen.
United bowlers dazzled in the innings with 18-year-old Shadab Khan taking Azam’s wicket off his first ball.
Rumman Raees knocked Chris Gayle out early with just 17 runs. He went on to get Bopara, Pollard and Wasim caught out and took Usama Mir’s catch off Muhammad Sami.
During yesterday’s match, the Quetta Gladiators snatched a dramatic one-run victory against Peshawar Zalmi yesterday at Sharjah to enter the the PSL final scheduled for March 5 at Lahore’s Qadhafi Stadium.
After 20 matches, the PSL 2017 has now entered the decisive stage where Lahore Qalandars will be missing for the second successive season.
In an exact replica of inaugural season, the playoff line-ups are same as they were last year. – Agencies
