Published: Mar 02, 2017, 02:22 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 02, 2017, 02:22 AM (IST)
Man of the Match Imad Wasim’s magical spell of 4 overs conceding just 18 runs and bagging three very crucial wickets sealed Karachi Kings an emphatic 44-run victory over defending champions Islamabad United in the 2nd Qualifier of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017. Imad Wasim was well accompanied by pacer Mohammad Aamer (3 for 7) and fellow spinner Usama Mir (3 for 24) to skittle out United’s for just 82 in 15.2 overs. Only two batsmen from Islamabad could score runs in double-figures. Opener Asif Ali scored highest (39 off 36) to put some fight back but in vain. Apart from Asif, his skipper Misbah-ul-Haq scored runs in double-figures (13 off 13); excluding these two batsmen, none other could score in double-digits.
Winning the toss, Misbah decided to take to the field as the wicket looked very much conducive to bowlers initially. The first runs of the bat for Kings came in the 14 delivery of the innings. Karachi openers Babar Azam and Chris Gayle opted to be watchful initially. They waited for bad deliveries to come and avoided rash shots. But both these batsmen failed to capitalise on the decent start they got. Gayle (17 off 15) was the first to walk back off Rumman Raees’ bowling.
Before the Kings could set things right for themselves having lost Gayle, 2 deliveries later, Babar (25 off 21) too departed leaving their team in a spot of bother. By the time both Karachi openers were back, they had managed to put 42 runs on the board. Kumar Sangakkara and Shoaib Malik were the two new batsmen and had a tough task of resurrecting their innings and put their team in a commendable position.
Sangakkara and Malik played some sensible cricket taking singles regularly and keeping the scoreboard ticking. But Misbah deployed Shane Watson from one end and this ploy worked immediately. Watson managed to get the crucial wicket of Sangakkara (17 off 19), thus ending the 34-run stand from 32 deliveries for the 3rd wicket. New man Ravi Bopara tried to put some runs on the board along with Malik.
The Islamabad bowlers were bowling excellent spells not allowing either of the batsmen to score boundaries or sixes. Just when it looked like these two had played out the difficult part, Bopara (14 off 15) perished after putting 34-runs along with Malik.
Malik (25 off 23) having lost partners at regular intervals tried to take the matter in his hands, but he too failed and walked back the dugout adding 5 runs to his teams’ tally.
Imad (14 off 9), Kieron Pollard (5 off 8), Sohail Khan (0 off 1) Usama (1 off 2) and Usman Khan (0 off 2) all were dismissed 4 deliveries before the 20 overs, ending the Kings’ inning at 126.
United had a decent target to chase with the required run-rate just above 6 Runs per over. And likely so, openers Darren Bravo and Asif started off well bashing bad deliveries to boundary ropes. But Aamer drew the first blood getting rid of Bravo (8 off 11) who announced retirement from all forms of international cricket where Sangakkara took an awesome flying to his right one-handed catch. Brad Haddin who was already enduring a tough spell in this second season of PSL, lasted only 3 deliveries to get dismissed for nought in the same over from Aamer.
Suddenly, Islamabad were trembling at 114 runs to win. Misbah walked in at No. 3 and started off well-taking singles and avoiding risks. Asif, on the other hand, made sure of punishing the Kings’ pace attack whenever they bowled short or outside off. Seeing both batsmen going easy against pace, Sangakkara deployed spin by introducing Imad into the attack.
This move worked quickly and did wonders ad Misbah was clean bowled by Imad. This wicket saw an end to increasing 34-run stand for the 3rd wicket. Islamabad were cascading down and were 47 for 3 when Misbah departed. Watson (8 off 9)tried to put some quick runs on the board with cracking strokes, but he too perished. Watson too was undone by Imad who cleaned up the former Australia’s woodwork in a matter of 2 overs.
This triggered the Islamabad United batting downfall. Next batsmen Shadab Khan (1 off 2) and Nicholas Pooran (1 off 3) were dismissed off consecutive deliveries by Usama paving Kings the path of an emphatic victory. Amad Butt (7 off 8), Sami (0 off 1), Rumman Raees (0 off 4) were eventually all cleaned up in no time ensuring the Kings an enthralling victory over the former champions by 44 runs in this first eliminator.
Due to this defeat, Islamabad United have been knocked out the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017, whereas the Karachi Kings will lock horns with Darren Sammy-led Peshawar Zalmi on Friday in the second eliminator of the tournament.
Peshawar Zalmi lost their first qualifier against Quetta Gladiators on Tuesday by a run.
The winner from Karachi and Peshawar will meet the Gladiators in the first qualifier on Wednesday in the PSL final on Sunday at Lahore.
Brief scores:
Karachi Kings 126 all out in 19.4 overs (Babar Azam 25, Shoaib Malik 25; Rumman Raees 4 for 25, Mohammad Sami 2 for 19) won vs Islamabad United 82 all out in 15.2 overs (Asif Ali 39, Misbah-ul-Haq 13; Mohammad Aamer 3 for 7, Imad Wasim 3 for 18, Usama Mir 3 for 24) by 44 runs
