In the final league stage match of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10, Islamabad United secured a dominant 79-run victory over Karachi Kings at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Karachi Kings won the toss and chose to field first, putting Islamabad United in to bat. The match was played in support of breast cancer awareness, with Islamabad United wearing special pink kits and Karachi Kings sporting pink caps.
Batting first, Islamabad United posted a massive total of 251/5. Openers Alex Hales and Sahibzada Farhan provided a sensational start, sharing a 153-run stand for the first wicket. Farhan scored 73 runs off 41 balls, hitting 9 fours and 3 sixes. Hales delivered a blistering 88 off just 35 balls, smashing 8 sixes and 6 fours. Captain Shadab Khan also chipped in with a solid 42.
Chasing 252, Karachi Kings got a decent start with Tim Seifert and David Warner adding 56 for the first wicket. Seifert scored 26, while Warner top-scored with 43 before being dismissed. The rest of the batting lineup collapsed under pressure, with James Vince scoring just 8 and Saad Baig managing only 5.
After slipping to 114/8, Abbas Afridi (34) and Aamer Jamal (16) offered brief resistance, but the team was eventually bowled out for 172.
From the bowling side, Shadab Khan starred with 4 wickets, while Imad Wasim claimed 2 crucial scalps.
With this win, Islamabad United secured a spot in Qualifier 1, where they will face Quetta Gladiators. Karachi Kings, finishing third, will play Lahore Qalandars in the Eliminator.
