PSL 10: Shadab, bowlers shine as United down Kings by 6 wickets

• United reach finish line with 17 balls to spare. 
• Nawaz scores decisive run on first ball of 18th over.
• Hasan Ali was standout bowler for Kings with two wickets.

KARACHI: A clinical bowling display followed by a composed knock from Shadab Khan guided Islamabad United to a dominant six-wicket win over Karachi Kings in the 10th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a modest 129-run target, United comfortably reached the finish line with 17 balls to spare and six wickets in hand.

They got off to a brisk start with Sahibzada Farhan and Azam Khan opening the innings. The pair added 34 runs before Farhan was dismissed by Hasan Ali after a fiery 30 off just 18 balls, including five boundaries and a six.

Hasan struck again in the same over, removing Colin Munro for a run-a-ball 4, leaving United at 38/2 in the fifth over.

Skipper Shadab Khan then joined Azam Khan at the crease, and the two steadied the innings with a 65-run stand. Their partnership laid the foundation for a comfortable chase before Mohammad Nabi bowled out Azam in the 14th over.

Azam contributed a steady 31 from 30 balls, featuring three boundaries and a six, leaving United just 26 runs away from victory, which they eventually achieved with ease.

Shadab, on the other hand, had an agonising end to his match-winning knock as he was dismissed by Abbas Afridi in the 17th over when United needed only one run.

He remained the top-scorer for the United with a sensible 47 off 40 deliveries, studded with five fours and two sixes.

The decisive run was eventually scored on the first delivery of the 18th over by Mohammad Nawaz, who remained unbeaten with eight off 12 balls.

Experienced pacer Hasan Ali was once again the standout bowler for the Kings as he picked up two wickets for just 28 runs in his four overs, while Nabi chipped in with one scalp.

Earlier, United's bowlers delivered a clinical performance to restrict Karachi Kings to a below-par 128/7.

Karachi Kings endured a shaky start as they lost captain David Warner (3) and in-form batter James Vince (4) within the first four overs, managing just 22 runs on the board.

Emerging wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig then joined Tim Seifert in an attempt to stabilise the innings. The pair added 39 runs for the third wicket, playing cautiously against United's disciplined attack.

Their brief resistance was broken in the 10th over when Shadab Khan removed Baig for 20 off 17 balls, laced with four boundaries.

Seifert couldn’t hold on for long either, departing in the 13th over to Imad Wasim after a sluggish 30 off 37 balls, which included only one boundary.

United kept the pressure on, as Shadab returned to dismiss Mohammad Irfan Khan (5 off 8) early in the 16th over, followed by Naseem Shah’s short delivery that undid Khushdil Shah (17 off 23) in the next.

Jason Holder, currently the tournament's leading wicket-taker, then removed Aamir Jamal with a sharp bouncer in the 18th over, leaving Kings struggling at 102/7.

Abbas Afridi then bolstered the Kings’ total to 128/7 with a quickfire 24-run cameo from just nine deliveries, comprised of one four and three sixes.

For United, Naseem, Shadab and Holder led the way with two wickets each, while Imad Wasim chipped in with one scalp.

Earlier, Islamabad United won the toss and decided to bowl first against Karachi Kings.

Islamabad United remain the only unbeaten side in PSL 10, topping the table with three commanding wins. The defending champions are riding a wave of form and confidence as they look to extend their streak.

Karachi Kings, on the other hand, have had a mixed run — opening with a win, stumbling in their second game, and bouncing back with a dominant victory over Quetta Gladiators.

Islamabad have dominated this rivalry, winning the last five encounters. Karachi, backed by their home crowd, will aim to break the jinx and turn the tide.

Squads

Karachi Kings: David Warner, Abbas Afridi and Adam Milne (all platinum), James Vince, Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah (all diamond), Shan Masood, Muhammad Irfan Khan and Aamir Jamal (all gold), Arafat Minhas (brand ambassador), Tim Seifert, Zahid Mahmood, Mir Hamza (silver), Fawad Ali and Riazullah (both emerging), Omair Bin Yousuf, Saad Baig, Mohammad Nabi and Mirza Mamoon (all supplementary), Ben McDermott.

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah and Matthew Short (all platinum), Azam Khan, Imad Wasim and Jason Holder (all diamond), Haider Ali, Salman Ali Agha and Ben Dwarshuis (all gold), Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Andries Gous, Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Irshad (all silver), Hunain Shah and Saad Masood (both emerging), Rassie van der Dussen, Riley Meredith and Sam Billings (all supplementary).