RAWALPINDI: After stumbling with four consecutive defeats following five straight victories at the start of their HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) campaign, defending champions Islamabad United made a strong statement on Monday night at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
In a dominant all-round display, United piled on a massive total and then dismantled Karachi Kings with the ball, as captain Shadab Khan starred with both bat and ball.
Shadab delivered a quickfire 42 off 19 balls (three fours, three sixes) and later returned to take 4 wickets for 45 runs with his leg-spin, throttling the Kings’ chase and steering United to a convincing 79-run victory.
The emphatic win lifted Islamabad to second in the standings, securing a spot in the qualifier against Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday. Karachi, now third, will face Lahore Qalandars in the eliminator on Thursday.
First Innings Fireworks
After being put in to bat, Islamabad made full use of the batting-friendly conditions. Sahibzada Farhan (73 off 41, nine fours, three sixes) and Alex Hales (88 off 35, six fours, eight sixes) laid the foundation with explosive half-centuries, propelling their side to 251-5 in 20 overs.
United raced to 76 without loss in the powerplay. Farhan reached his fifty in just 28 balls before lofting Hasan Ali over midwicket to cross the 100-run mark. Hales took charge in the 10th over, smashing three sixes and a four off Aamer Jamal as United reached 130 at the halfway mark.
After Farhan was caught off Mir Hamza and van der Dussen holed out off Aamer, a miscommunication led to Salman Ali Agha’s run-out. But Shadab revived the momentum, hammering sixes off Hasan, Aamer, and Khushdil Shah. Despite Hales being bowled by Khushdil, Shadab’s boundaries ensured United cruised past 200 in the 17th over. Late cameos from Haider Ali and Ben Dwarshuis added the finishing touches.
Karachi’s Collapse
Karachi began brightly, posting 62-1 during the powerplay. Tim Seifert made 26 off 17 before falling to a yorker from Salman Irshad. James Vince was undone by Imad Wasim’s spin, and Saad Baig chipped one to Shadab off Agha Salman.
Imad struck again to dismiss Karachi skipper David Warner (43 off 28), before Shadab snared Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Nabi to leave Karachi struggling at 107-6 by the 12th over.
Shadab returned to bowl Irfan Khan and Hasan Ali in the 14th over, tightening the noose. Abbas Afridi briefly counterattacked with three sixes off Shadab in the 16th over, but perished shortly after. Salman then removed Aamer Jamal as Karachi were bowled out for 172 in 18.2 overs.
Match Summary
Islamabad United: 251-5 in 20 overs
- Hales 88, Farhan 73, Shadab 42
- Khushdil, Hamza, and Aamer picked up a wicket each
Karachi Kings: 172 all out in 18.2 overs
- Warner 43, Afridi 34
- Shadab 4-45, Salman 3-28, Imad 2-22
Result: Islamabad United won by 79 runs
Player of the Match: Alex Hales
PSL 2025 Final League Standings
| Team | M | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quetta Gladiators | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 1.393 |
| Islamabad United | 10 | 6 | 4 | – | 12 | 0.372 |
| Karachi Kings | 10 | 6 | 4 | – | 12 | 0.049 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 1.036 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 10 | 4 | 6 | – | 8 | -0.293 |
| Multan Sultans | 10 | 1 | 9 | – | 2 | -2.449 |
