Right. That ends all the action from game 6. Islamabad move to second spot, while Karachi are third. The PSL takes a day's break now, before coming in full force on Friday and Saturday with successive double headers. Friday, 26th February, 2021, sees Lahore Qalandars meet Multan Sultans at 3 pm local (1000 GMT), followed by the Peshawar Zalmi-Quetta Gladiators clash at 8 pm local (1500 GMT). Take a break and come back refreshed on Friday. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
Victorious Islamabad United captain, Shadab Khan, says that as a team, winning is a great feeling. And as a bowler, his bowling could have proved to be costly but luckily, it did not. Understands that he needs to step up both, as a batsman and a bowler in future games. On the issues for his team, Shadab says that in the previous game, batting was an issue and in this one, it was the bowling. Says that the aim is to just try and eliminate as many mistakes as possible. On the promotion of Faheem Ashraf with the bat, Khan says that he has been playing phenomenally recently and the skipper just utilized his form. Lauds the innings by Iftikhar and Talat for finishing the game off.
ALEX HALES HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Hales says that to chase a big total like 197 and with the pitch slowing down, Hales planned to attack in the Powerplay and is thankful that it came off. On Karachi faltering towards the end during their batting, Hales says that it got difficult to bat. Admits that the team is in really good spirits with two big wins. On his dropped catch of Sharjeel, Alex does not want to give any excuses and says that he should have taken it 9 out of 10 times.
Karachi Kings skipper, Imad Wasim, says that it was a good game and eventually, his team fell short by 20 runs. Praises Alex Hales and Asif Ali. On leaving Mohammad Nabi a bit too late to bowl, Imad says that he gave him bowling because the pitch started to turn late and the gamble to bowl him the 18th over was because he was the best bowler of the night. Admits that Karachi were poor in the field at the death but does not want to feel too bad about it in just the second game for his side. Praises Sharjeel Khan for his innings and hopes that he continues his form.
Asif Ali is up for a chat. Asif says that the coach kept giving him confidence in the dugout that he can score as many runs that were needed, whatever be the situation. Says that when he came out to bat, he planned to take Mohammad Nabi on and it worked. Admits that Islamabad's line-up is a never-ending one, with them batting as deep as number 10 with Hasan Ali slotting in at that position. Stresses that they always have the confidence in their batting.
Earlier, Karachi got off to the best of starts possible. Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam set up a massive 176-run opening stand, with Sharjeel getting a century. But they lacked steam towards the end overs, faalling well short of a big total. Not that 196 was not big, but at one stage, the Kings looked like touching 220. Islamabad struggled with the ball but came back tremendously towards the end overs, through Faheem Ashraf. Please stay tuned for the presentation...
Never easy is it, to bowl with the dew and Karachi struggled. They began well but could not quite get the wickets at regular intervals. Every bowler went for a tour around the park, except Mohammad Nabi, till his final over. It was that 18th over which turned out to be a costly gamble from Imad Wasim and Karachi suffered. Strangely, Daniel Christian bowled just 1 over. Could have been given another at least.
4th highest successful run chase in the history of the PSL. It was set up by a whirlwind innings by Alex Hales at the top and then, finished by a mammoth stand between Iftikhar Ahmed and Hussain Talat. The pitch seemed to be a belter and the run chase proved it. The run chase began poorly, with Salt and Shadab getting dismissed in the first 2 overs, but then Hales just put Karachi to the sword. 77 came in the Powerplay and even though Hales got out, he had provided a wonderful platform. Iftikhar and Talat then batted smartly to sustain the pressure on Karachi.
ISLAMABAD UNITED
197/5 (19.1)
49* (37)
46 (21)
1/22 (2.1)
1/26 (4)
Over 20
1
Iftikhar Ahmed*
49 (37)
Asif Ali
21 (9)
Waqas Maqsood
1/22 (2.1)
ISL
197/5
1
19.1
Waqas Maqsood to Iftikhar Ahmed ,The single is taken and ISLAMABAD WIN! Or is it? Karachi want a review. Full toss it was, outside off. Asif looked to swing but got hit on the boot. The ball deflected to third man and the batsmen took the single. The review just delays proceedings as UltraEdge detects a thick inside edge. The third umpire is yet to make his decision but the players are already leaving the field! The decision comes now, as NOT OUT and the game ends. ISLAMABAD WIN BY 5 WICKETS!
Who is it? Waqas Maqsood to bowl the final over. 2-0-21-1 so far.
Over 19
0
2
0
4
6
1
Asif Ali*
20 (8)
Iftikhar Ahmed
49 (37)
Mohammad Amir
1/44 (4)
ISL
196/5
1
18.6
Mohammad Amir to Asif Ali ,Slower ball, short in length, outside off, AA leaps and upper cuts it towards deep point. Babar Azam comes running in for the catch but does not dive, letting the ball land in front. Scores level, with that 13-run over.
6
18.5
Mohammad Amir to Asif Ali ,SIX! Killer blow! A big, big difference between a good idea and a bad idea. Amirmight have just predicted that he is going to target the leg stump, after a boundary on the previous ball. And Asif was ready. Got a length ball, around middle and leg, Ali just whipped it over mid-wicket! Just the 2 to win now...
4
18.4
Mohammad Amir to Asif Ali ,FOUR! CRASH! The yorker length is attempted again but Amir misses it by just a fraction. Result? Punished! Low full toss, outside off, Asif gets under it and lofts it over cover. Nearly hits the skirting on the full. 8 needed from 8 balls now. The stand moves to 13 from 6 deliveries.
0
18.3
Mohammad Amir to Asif Ali ,Brilliant bowling. Yorker length, outside off, wide but just inside the guideline. Ali looks to steer it to third man but misses.
2
18.2
Mohammad Amir to Asif Ali ,Full, wide, outside off, sliced over point. The batsmen run hard to come back for the second.
0
18.1
Mohammad Amir to Asif Ali ,Full, just outside off, Iftikhar gets across, looks to lap but misses. Dot ball.
Over 18
6
1
0
W
6
1
Asif Ali*
7 (2)
Iftikhar Ahmed
49 (37)
Mohammad Nabi
1/26 (4)
ISL
183/5