A clinical performance from Islamabad United saw Karachi Kings get thrashed by seven wickets in Match 15 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024. United were in control of the game for most of the time as they registered their second win of the tournament and moved up to fourth on the points table. On the other hand, Kings suffered their second loss and slipped to the fifth position.
After being inserted to bat first, Kings got off to a poor start as they lost opener Tim Seifert early on. Captain Shan Masood looked a bit rusty at the other end, but Leus du Plooy smashed the bowlers right from the word go. United struck with quick wickets at regular intervals and put the batting side in the driver's seat. From 57/2 in 7.4 overs, Kings slipped to 89/5 in 13.1 overs.
They looked in dire straits, but that's when Caribbean storm Kieron Pollard turned on his beast mode. The former West Indies captain scored a blazing 28-ball 48 to bail his team out of trouble. Pollard got a good companion in Irfan Khan and the duo added 62 runs in the last four overs as the United bowlers lost their rhythm towards the end.
Munro-Hales combo gets United to a flying start
A target of 166 did not threaten United and their openers Colin Munro and Alex Hales got them off to an absolute flyer. The game had already slipped away from Kings before Hasan Ali dismissed Hales in the 12th over. The two added 108 runs in the first wicket and that set the tone for their comprehensive win.
Munro top-scored with 82 runs while Hales scored 47 off 35 balls. Agha Salman chipped in with a quick-fire 27 runs. He smashed two back-to-back sixes in in 19th over to get his team over the line with seven wickets remaining.
Speaking after the match, United captain, Shadab Khan said, "When you win, sometimes your mistakes are covered. Lovely win, nice how the team picked up after the loss in the last game. We were not up to the mark in our fielding. We have to put more energy in the field. As a bowling unit we were very good. Sometimes you go for runs but if we field better it's a different ball game".
Here's how fans reacted:
Karachi and Lahore are back in their original form #PSL9 pic.twitter.com/N5Dbc7tfmb
— AHMAD (@ahmadtweets28) February 28, 2024
Hassan Ali Cameo.
— Amir (@O_War_Jani_Dya) February 28, 2024
Eat
Play
Beaten By batsman
Sleep
Loll management ha
— 𝑴 . 𝑾𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 |•💜𝗞𝗞💜•| (@Itx_WasiCH_56) February 28, 2024
Akhlaq ko Vince ko drop krr dia fast bowler b danggg k koi ne
Not satisfied with Karachi king. Just pollard playing... Where is other 10 players . Need intent .
— 𝘼𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧 ملک 🍂 (@ammar_malik_786) February 28, 2024
2 match toh Pollard ne jetaye nahi toh tum logo ka lahore se b bura haal hona tha
— ЅᏦᎽ (@13hamdard) February 28, 2024
Most kachra team Karachi
Congratulations Islamabad united,, well deserved victory
— Habib Malik (@HabibMalik626) February 28, 2024
Strong come back Congratulations
— 𝐀𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐝 | فریدی (@ahmad_faredii) February 28, 2024
Finally... let's regain our form now
— Abdurehman 𝕏🇵🇰🌏 (@abdurehm4n) February 28, 2024