United end Kings' PSL campaign, face Zalmi for place in final

DUBAI: Islamabad United put up an all-round performance to beat Karachi Kings by nine wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

United's top order fired with Dwayne Smith scored 50 off 48 deliveries, hitting seven fours and a six, in partnership with Brad Haddin, who scored a quickfire 52 off 29 deliveries, hitting four fours and three sixes.

With this win, United will now face Peshawar Zalmi in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 3rd Qualifying Final on February 21.

Earlier, the United bowlers kept their line and length in check to restrict Karachi Kings to 111-9 in the eliminator.

Mohammad Sami was the pick of bowlers for United with figures 4-0-8-5.

Sami, with his pace and swing, troubled Kings’ batsmen throughout his spell and dismissed Riki Wessels (one), Ravi Bopara (37), Ryan Ten Doeschate (16), Imad Wasim (six) and Usama Mir (zero).

After being four down for 39, Kings’ skipper Bopara tried to bring his team back into the contest by establishing a crucial 49-run stand for the fifth wicket with Doeschate, but in vain as batsmen coming down the order could not sustain the momentum.

Andre Russell took two wickets, whereas Mohammad Irfan and Samuel Badree also pitched in by claiming a wicket each.

Islamabad United had won the toss and decided to field first. They brought in Russell, Badree and Imran Khalid in place of Saeed Ajmal, Azhar Mahmood and Ashar Zaidi.

The Kings brought in Doeschate, Iftikhar, Imad and Mir Hamza.

United, led by Misbah-ul-Haq, were without hard-hitting Australian opening batsman Shane Watson. He was ruled out of the remainder of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with abdominal injury on February 13.

Kings, on the other hand, faced a mountainous task under a new captain Ravi Bopara after Shoaib Malik stepped down from the role in a surprising move a day ago.

The Karachi side have had a poor campaign throughout the league, winning just two out of their eight matches, and only got through to the next round on a better head-to-head record against Lahore Qalandars.

Teams

Karachi Kings: Lendll Simmons, Riki Wessels (wicketkeeper), Shoaib Malik, Ravi Bopara (captain), Ryan Ten Doeschate, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Usama Mir, Sohail Khan and Mir Hamza.

Islamabad United: Sharjeel Khan, Dwayne Smith, Khalid Latif, Asif Ali, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Andre Russell, Imran Khalid, Samuel Badree, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Sami.