PSL 2 - Match 20 : Karachi Kings down Islamabad United by five wickets to qualify for the playoffs

[Abdullah719]

​

Islamabad United Team
Dwayne Smith, Ben Duckett, Hussain Talat, Brad Haddin, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Shane Watson, Shadab Khan, Rumman Raees, Mohammad Sami, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Irfan.

Karachi Kings Team
Babar Azam, Kumar Sangakkara*, Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik, Ravi Bopara, Kieron Pollard, Imad Wasim, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Amir, Usama Mir, Usman Khan Shinwari.

After a prolonged delay due to rain and a wet outfield, a 15-over match commenced as Sangakkara won the toss and opted to field with Gayle returning, replacing Jayawardene. Ajmal and Duckett replaced Rafatullah and Badree for Islamabad. Smith and Duckett started aggressively with the former hitting a few boundaries in the first couple of overs. Duckett hit Sohail for two fours but then picked out mid-on off a slower ball. A few tight overs also saw Hussain Talat run out after some good work by Imad Wasim. Watson tried to get a move on due to the reduced number of overs but was caught off Sohail. Haddin and Smith got a few boundaries to provide momentum but both fell to Usman off consecutive deliveries, caught at long on with Pollard taking a blinder to dismiss the latter. Misbah and Shadab got away a six each but both fell to Amir in the last over as Islamabad ended on 123/7.

Karachi came out firing as Babar Azam got away a few boundaries in the first couple of overs. The next two overs were tight and built some pressure on the chasing side. Gayle then came to the party at last with two big sixes and a four off Irfan. He then went after Ajmal, hitting him for three sixes off consecutive deliveries to put Karachi in control of the chase. However, the off-spinner had the last laugh, dismissing him as he was caught at third man for 44. Sangakkara didn't last long, perishing to Shadab as he tried to clear the boundary. The young legspinner tormented the batsmen as first Malik tried going after him but failed to do so and was then caught - he had Babar Azam bowled on the next ball with a good googly. Bopara and Pollard stayed through to the end as Karachi sealed victory with a ball to spare, knocking out Lahore Qalandars from the tournament.

Next match: Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators

 

[Rayyman]

Great win!

are on

 

[dhump]

Great win many congrats to all Karachi fans bros.

#Karachi jeetay ga

 

[MenInG]

Good to see Mickey Arthur's tongue lashing having an effect

 

[DHONI183]

Had it not been for Gayle´s scintillating cameo, Islamabad would´ve been truly in the game, and also maybe Lahore would´ve got a close chance of staying alive in the tournament.

Islamabad´s batting in the middle overs proved costly in a 15-over affair. They were a bit slow in that phase of the innings, especially Talat´s and Watson´s innings.

 

[super hitter]

Karachi were definitely up for the qualification but the Gayle Storm set the tone for the win as well!

 

[zn426]

Had it not been for Gayle´s scintillating cameo, Islamabad would´ve been truly in the game, and also maybe Lahore would´ve got a close chance of staying alive in the tournament.

Islamabad´s batting in the middle overs proved costly in a 15-over affair. They were a bit slow in that phase of the innings, especially Talat´s and Watson´s innings.

Yes well Gayle's innings happened. No sense in tossing it to the side, it was exactly what his team needed.

Give the Karachi bowling credit, they did well in that middle innings phase to put themselves firmly on top.

 

[DHONI183]

Yes well Gayle's innings happened. No sense in tossing it to the side, it was exactly what his team needed.

Give the Karachi bowling credit, they did well in that middle innings phase to put themselves firmly on top.

Absolutely, full credit to him for a wonderful innings, although I was fearful that playing him again might prove costly. Also, it was a bit unfair on Jayawerdene for being dropped after just one innings, an innings in which he was brilliantly run out by the keeper. Maybe he could come in for the horribly out of touch Bopara?

Of course man, full credit to their bowlers. A side rarely slows down in run-rate without the opposition bowling well, so I fully appreciate their good bowling; and I watched it, so I know they bowled well. More or less I was pointing out the two biggest reasons why Karachi won and why Islamabad lost.

However, I do maintain that the latter could still have defended the total had it not been for the Gayle Storm, especially seeing how Shadab´s strikes kept them on their toes.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Getting mommetum just before playoffs could be handy,same like Islamabad did last year.