Karachi (Sports News): Islamabad United continued their dominant head-to-head record against Karachi Kings with an 11th consecutive triumph since February 2021 with a latest eight-wicket thumping in the second match of the Pink Ribbon Day Double-header here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Thursday.
Karachi Kings have only managed six wins ever over Islamabad United with four of them coming in the first three seasons and two in 2020.
The Thursday’s double-header marked the Pink Ribbon Day in the HBL PSL 11 as the players and officials came together to raise awareness for breast cancer. The official hashtag of the event #GoPink became the no.1 global trend on X after the cricket fraternity shared their thoughts regarding the Pink Day.
Opening duo Sameer Minhas and Devon Conway made light work of the 151-run target with a 93-run opening stand as United cruised home with 24 balls to spare. Both registered half-centuries as Sameer was named player of the match for his 36-ball 58 with the help of 10 fours and two outstanding fielding efforts.
Conway brought up his second half-century of the tournament and remained unbeaten on 53 off 36 balls striking six fours and one six. Sameer departed at the halfway mark after completing his second fifty and collected the second player of the match award for it.
Skipper Shadab (31 not out, 16b, 1x4, 2x6s) and Conway shared a 40-run unbeaten stand to see their team home. United jumped to the second spot on the points table with four wins and nine points to their name. Karachi Kings are placed fifth with only three wins, which came in Lahore leg, while they have lost three on the trot in Karachi.
For the Kings, Hasan Ali removed Mohammad Faiq for an eight-ball five, while Moeen accounted for Sameer as Saad Baig effected the stumping.
Earlier, for the second straight game in the day a team won the toss and elected to bowl first. Karachi Kings fielded Jason Roy as their debutant in place of Muhammad Waseem, while Moeen continued to stand-in for David Warner, who is expected to recover for the next game.
No.3 batter Reeza Hendricks’ unbeaten half-century kept the Kings innings from faltering away as they collected only seven runs from the opening two overs losing Saad Baig to Richard Gleeson.
Roy (39, 27b, 3x4s, 2x6s) and Hendricks built a 62-run second-wicket stand and threatened to lay the foundation for a healthy total but skipper Shadab provided the vital breakthrough. He snapped Roy and Salman Ali Agha across 9th and 11th overs to leave Kings 77-3 in 10.2 overs.
Hendricks, whose 51 not out came off 44 balls, hit only four fours in his outing. He stitched a 54-run stand off 45 balls as United kept the scoring rate in check.
Azam fell to Gleeson with Sameer taking brilliant diving catch in the off-side outfield, while in the next over Sameer and Chapman executed an outstanding relay catch at the cow corner to remove Khushdil Shah for just two.
Moeen only managed a six in his five-ball eight before falling on the penultimate ball of the innings to Mohammad Hasnain. Gleeson and Shadab accounted for two wickets each giving away 22 and 28 runs respectively in their four overs each. Faheem had one wicket to his name.
Scores in brief:
Karachi Kings 150-6, 20 overs (Reeza Hendricks 51 not out, Jason Roy 39, Azam Khan 34; Richard Gleeson 2-22, Shadab Khan 2-28)
Islamabad United 153-2, 16 overs (Sameer Minhas 58, Devon Conway 53 not out, Shadab Khan 31 not out)
Player of the Match – Sameer Minhas (Islamabad United)
Friday’s fixture: Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators at National Bank Stadium, Karachi; 7pm PKT
