That is it from this game. Islamabad United have done the double over the defending champions and stay top of the table. Karachi Kings have succumbed to their second loss on the trot and will need to bounce back of this blip sooner. The action in PSL 2021 continues on Tuesday, 15th June. It is a doubleheader Tuesday. Quetta Gladiators take on Lahore Qalanders in the first game. That match begins at 1700 local (1300 GMT). Make sure to join us then. Till then, goodbye and cheers!
Shadab Khan, the Islamabad United skipper, says that this is a team game and he is happy that when the top order fails, the middle order steps up. Says that their intensity out on the field was slightly poor and hence, they can improve that going forward and intensity is something that he wants from his team.
IFTIKHAR AHMED IS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. He says that he knows that he has to play until the end and so he plays that way. Says that he just wants to perform for his team, whenever he gets a chance, regardless of when he comes out to bat.
Earlier in the evening, Karachi Kings were asked to bat and they responded well to that. The defending champions managed to put up a very good total of 190. They managed to get this total on the back of an 81 from Babar Azam and an unbeaten 71 from Najibullah Zadran. It seemed like it would be a match-winning total but it did not turn out to be that way as dew played a crucial part in the second innings.
Imad Wasim, the Karachi Kings captain, says that they needed to be better out on the field and this is a setback for them. Feels that they will go back and look at what they can do and says that since he got injured, he couldn't bowl his quota. Opines that they were short by 15-20 and they need to work on their middle-over bowling and they will look to improve. Frankly opines that they have played really bad and there is nothing to lose, so they will come out stronger.
It was a tough evening with the ball for Karachi Kings. They will be fuming to have failed to defend a target in excess of 190 for the second time this season against Islamabad United. The defending champions started the proceedings well with the ball and were on top for the first half of the chase. That dropped off Maqsood though affected the body language as Karachi Kings just looked jaded post that. Waqas Maqsood was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with 1/27. Afridi should have had Munro but it was not to be and he was expensive for his one wicket. Skipper Imad Wasim's injury did not help the cause as Perera failed to fill the avoid. Overall a tough evening for the defending champions as nothing went their way and dew didn't help their cause either.
Chasing 191, Islamabad United started off slowly and poorly as Usman Khawaja and Muhammad Akhlaq departed early. Colin Munro was struggling but that changed completely after Maqsood gave him a chance and dropped a catch off him. Everything then started falling Munro's way. He started to find the middle of the bat and when he was caught, that was off the no ball. Iftikhar Ahmed and Colin Munro capitalized on that and turned the screw. The pair added 150 for the third wicket with Munro going unbeaten on 88 and Iftikhar Ahmed scoring a superb 71.
What a fantastic chase from Islamabad United! They have managed to chase down another total in excess of 190 to make it a double over Karachi Kings this season. They chased down 197 in the first leg and now they have scaled 191. Karachi Kings had things under control but as the saying goes 'catches win matches' and Maqsood dropping Munro changed the tide of the game.
ISLAMABAD UNITED
191/2 (18.4)
88* (56)
71* (39)
1/27 (4)
1/33 (3)
Over 19
4
4
wd
1
wd
1
Iftikhar Ahmed*
71 (39)
Colin Munro
88 (56)
Mohammad Amir
0/32 (3.4)
ISL
191/2
1
18.4
Mohammad Amir to Iftikhar Ahmed ,GAME OVER. What a run chase this has been for United. Take a bow, Iftikhar Ahmed! Take a bow, Colin Munro! This is bowled outside off, Ahmed steers this towards third man and ISLAMABAD UNITED WIN BY 8 WICKETS!
wd
18.4
Mohammad Amir to Iftikhar Ahmed ,WIDE AND SCORES LEVEL! Shortish and outside off, left alone. One more needed.
1
18.3
Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro ,Slapped away to the sweeper cover for a single. A couple runs away now.
wd
18.3
Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro ,WIDE. This is slipped down the leg side and is wided. Just 3 more.
4
18.2
Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro ,FOUR! Oh, stop it, Colin Munro, how can you be so cheeky? That's clever stuff. Two-in-two for him now and only 4 needed now. A back of a length delivery, slower, around off, Colin Munro goes back and gently guides this to the third man fence.
4
18.1
Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro ,FOUR! Ah, effortless. How cool did Munro look when he hit that? He's in cruise control, this lad! A good length ball on middle, Colin Munro gets underneath the ball and smokes this one downtown for a boundary.
Over 18
0
1
wd
1
6
1
1
Colin Munro*
79 (53)
Iftikhar Ahmed
70 (38)
Abbas Afridi
1/33 (3)
ISL
179/2
1
17.6
Abbas Afridi to Colin Munro ,Good length outside off, this is smacked to long off for one. A-run-a-ball now, 12 needed in 12.
1
17.5
Abbas Afridi to Iftikhar Ahmed ,Squeezed out to the short third man fielder for a quick run.
6
17.4
Abbas Afridi to Iftikhar Ahmed ,SIX! AND HAVE A GO, HE DOES! Cracking. Outstanding batting. What a run chase this is ended up to be. A fuller ball, way outside off, Iftikhar Ahmed gets low and powers this over extra covers. 14 more needed.