Colin Munro’s quickfire 28-ball 58 and Azam Khan’s fiery 28-ball 44 powered Islamabad United to a thumping four-wicket victory over Karachi Kings in the fourth match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Karachi on Thursday.
Chasing a target of 174, Mohammad Amir provided his team with an early breakthrough by dismissing opener Hassan Nawaz on 7-ball 7. Muhammad Musa also removed Paul Stirling on 7-ball 4.
But South African Rassie van der Dussen played cleverly and stitched a much-needed partnership with Colin Munro. Dussen was bowled by skipper Imad Wasim. He scored 25-ball 31, clobbered with four boundaries and a six.
Colin Munro flexed his muscles and played a special knock, studded with five boundaries and four gigantic sixes. Munro was ably supported by Azam Khan, who scored a 28-ball 44 and hammered six fours and one six.
Faheem Ashraf, known for his fiery batting, could only manage a 7-ball 12 with two boundaries.
Tom Curran and Asif Ali remained unbeaten on 10 and 4, respectively, to help the United (178-6) sweep past the Kings in the 19th over.
For the Kings, Mohammad Amir and Muhammad Musa bagged two wickets each. However, Amir conceded 30 runs and Musa gave away 48. Skipper Imad Wasim was brilliant in his four overs. He conceded merely 19 and took a scalp.
Other bowlers, including Andrew Tye (0-31), James Fuller (0-37), and Shoaib Malik (0-7) were wicketless.
Earlier, after winning the toss, Shadab Khan decided to send the Kings to bat. The United had struck earlier, removing Vince on 3-ball 4. But, Sharjeel and Haider had taken the Kings out of the quagmire and steered to 173-7.
In his fiery innings, Haider clobbered seven fours and two sixes, while Sharjeel smashed four boundaries and one six.
Irfan Khan (19), Matthew Wade (18), and Shoaib Malik (18) also contributed to the Kings’ total.
Skipper Imad Wasim, who played brilliant innings in the previous match, was removed by Mohammad Wasim, without troubling the scorecard.
James Fuller and Andrew Tye remained unbeaten on 12 and 1, respectively.
For the United, with the exception of skipper Shadab, everybody claimed wickets. Rumman Raees (2-26), Mohammad Wasim (2-38), and Tom Curran (2-42) bagged two wickets apiece. They were ably supported by Faheem Ashraf (1-25), who took a scalp.
Islamabad United elected to field against the Karachi Kings in the fourth match of the domestic premium tournament.
