NEW DELHI: Islamabad United emerged victorious against Karachi Kings, securing a vital five-wicket win propelled by outstanding performances from fast bowlers Tymal Mills and Faheem Ashraf in a riveting clash in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The match, held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, witnessed a display of skill and determination from both teams.
With this crucial win, Islamabad United surged to the second position in the PSL standings with nine points, edging past Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi on superior net run rate, intensifying the competition for playoff berths.
Meanwhile, Karachi Kings, with six points, find themselves in a precarious position, needing victories in their remaining two matches and hoping for favorable results elsewhere to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Tymal Mills, making his first appearance in the Rawalpindi-leg this season, delivered a scintillating performance, claiming three wickets for 34 runs. Faheem Ashraf complemented Mills' efforts with his deceptive bowling, accounting for the dismissals of Karachi's opening batters Shan Masood and Tim Seifert, which restricted Karachi Kings to a modest total of 150-7.
Chasing the target, Islamabad United encountered early setbacks, with left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza providing Karachi Kings a glimmer of hope by dismissing power-hitters Alex Hales and Colin Munro within the batting powerplay. However, Islamabad's captain Shadab Khan and Salman Ali Agha steadied the innings with a resilient partnership of 56 runs.
Despite a flurry of wickets, Agha and Azam Khan departing in quick succession, Mir Hamza's sharp bounce deceiving Shadab Khan, Islamabad United remained composed. Haider Ali and Faheem Ashraf displayed maturity, guiding their team to victory with level-headed batting performances.
In Karachi Kings' innings, opener Shan Masood's struggles persisted as he fell early, caught brilliantly by Imad Wasim off Faheem Ashraf's bowling. Despite noteworthy contributions from Kieron Pollard and James Vince, Karachi Kings struggled to accelerate, with Mills and Ashraf applying relentless pressure in the death overs.
Ultimately, it was Islamabad United's collective effort with the ball and composed batting display under pressure that propelled them to a crucial victory, bolstering their prospects in the PSL playoff race.
(With inputs from AP)
