SHARJAH: Islamabad United defeated Karachi Kings by eight wickets in the fifteenth Twenty20 match in the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday night.
Chasing 154, Islamabad United completed their third victory in five matches with 16 balls to spare.
This was the first defeat Karachi Kings have tasted in the tournament after winning the first three successive matches. They were awarded only one point in their fourth match which washed out.
The credit of Islamabad’s victory went to their openers – Luke Ronchi and Jean-Paul Duminy who provided a solid start of 104 runs to guide for a successful chase.
Ronchi made 71 off 37 balls with ten fours and three sixes while Duminy scored a 44-ball 43 with five boundaries.
Later Hussain Talat made eight and Asif Ali remaine3d not out on 26.
Earlier, half-centuries by Khurram Manzoor and Babar Azam helped Karachi Kings reach 153 for six after being sent into bat.
The Kings lost an early wicket at the score of only six runs when fast bowler Mohammad Sami clean bowled Joe Denly for four.
Then Khurram and Babar rescued their team and added 101 runs for the second wicket. Khurram made 51 off 41 balls with six fours and a six while Babar scored 55 from 53 balls with three fours and two sixes.
However, the Kings could not maintain the tempo as five wickets fell in 22 balls as only 31 runs were added before Mohammad Rizwan blasted an unbeaten nine-ball 21 runs with a six and two fours to take the total to 153-6..
Medium-pacer Faheem Ashraf was the most successful bowler for the United to capture three wickets for 23.
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