PSL: Karachi beat Islamabad United

SHARJAH: Karachi Kings dented Islamabad United’s pride with a 44-run victory in the second PSL play-off at Sharjah Stadium on Wednesday night.

Imad Wasim, Usama Mir and Mohammad Amir maintained an impeccable approach in their bowling to get Karachi Kings an impregnable victory. They took three wickets each. The match that seemed turned in favour of Islamabad after Karachi Kings were bowled out for 126 in 19.4 overs, drew a dramatic turn around as the former champions saw their nerves wrecked bit after bit and were bowled out for 82 runs in 15.2 overs.

The pressure applied by Aamir in his third over doubled rather tripled by Imad Wasim and Usama Mir in the later stages of the game. It looked that Karachi had a jittery start but Islamabad were too nervy to get among the runs. All their stars – Dwayne Smith (8), Brad Haddin (0), Misbahul Haq (13), Shane Watson (8), Shadab Khan (1) and Nicholas Pooran (1) – had little to contribute in this low scoring match.

Islamabad’s only hope Asif Ali, who was maintaining the flow of runs, too did not last long enough and was taken by Usama Mir for 39. Earlier, Karachi Kings were at 122 for five in the 18th over but bundled out for 126 in 19.4 overs. Rumman Raees did the main damage by taking four wickets. Karachi would now face Peshawar Zalmi in the third playoff on Friday for a place in the final.