PSL 10: Islamabad United thrash Karachi Kings to claim their fourth consecutive victory

Defending champions Islamabad United continued their winning streak in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 with a dominant six-wicket win over Karachi Kings in the 10th match of the tournament at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a modest target of 129 runs, United made light work of the total, reaching it with 17 balls to spare and only four wickets down.

Islamabad’s opening pair, Sahibzada Farhan and Azam Khan, gave the team a strong start by adding 34 runs. Farhan looked in fine touch, smashing 30 runs from just 18 balls, including five fours and a six, before he was dismissed by Hasan Ali. In the same over, Colin Munro also fell cheaply, scoring just four runs off four balls. These quick wickets left United at 38/2 in 4.5 overs.

Captain Shadab Khan then stepped up to steady the innings alongside Azam Khan. The duo handled the pressure well and stitched together a solid 65-run stand to put United back in control. Azam played a responsible knock, scoring 31 off 30 balls with three fours and a six before being bowled by Mohammad Nabi in the 14th over.

Shadab Khan, who was leading from the front, played a crucial innings of 47 off 40 balls, hitting five boundaries and two sixes. Unfortunately, he missed out on a half-century after being bowled by Abbas Afridi with just one run needed to win. Mohammad Nawaz then finished the job on the first ball of the 18th over and remained not out on 8 runs.

Hasan Ali was the most successful bowler for Karachi Kings, taking two wickets for 28 runs. Nabi and Abbas Afridi claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, Karachi Kings had a poor start with the bat, losing their captain David Warner for just 3 runs and the in-form James Vince for 4 runs within the first four overs. With only 22 runs on the board, they were already in trouble.

Saad Baig and Tim Seifert tried to rebuild the innings with a 39-run partnership, but the United bowlers didn’t let them settle. Baig scored 20 off 17 balls before falling to Shadab Khan. Seifert struggled throughout his knock and managed just 30 off 37 balls, with only one boundary, before being dismissed by Imad Wasim.

The Kings kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Muhammad Irfan Khan (5), Khushdil Shah (17 off 23), and Aamir Jamal (7) all fell cheaply. Jason Holder, who continues to lead the wicket-takers chart in PSL 10, claimed Jamal’s wicket with a sharp short ball.

Abbas Afridi provided a late flourish for Karachi with a quickfire 24 off just 9 balls, hitting one four and three sixes, taking the Kings to 128/7 in their 20 overs.

For Islamabad United, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, and Jason Holder all took two wickets each, while Imad Wasim added one to his name.

With this win, Islamabad United earned two points and currently sit at the top of the PSL 10 points table. Meanwhile, Karachi Kings find themselves at the third after their fourth match.