The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
Islamabad United starts their campaign with a win while the Karachi Kings is yet to get off the mark. All said and done, this is just the intial stages of the tournament and we cannot really fathom how will the tournament progress. The action continues tomorrow with Multan Sultans slated to take on Peshawar Zalmi. Till then, this is Arya Sekhar Chakraborty signing off. Good night!!
Shadab Khan (Islamabad United captain): Yes I told you before that we have depth in our batting and we want to utilize that. We will try to play positive cricket every match. It’s database as well, the owner, the coaches everyone is on the same page. It’s my plan, Asif bhai and our late order they didn’t quite perform last year as they came very late. I made a plan, this was a game where you can gain confidence. Zeeshan is our asset, he didn’t play the game. We want him ready for the next game. If not the next game then for the rest of the tournament. Even Hasan Nawaz showed intent, he didn’t perform but the intent is more important.
Colin Munro (Player of the Match): Yeah I think it's always nice to start well. Bit of luck but very nice to get the win. Worked straight down my alley, I have to be aggressive, if we are iffy and get out its not great. The environment around Shadab is fantastic. We have got Nawaz at the top, getting out there in a positive manner, We have a lot of positives to take today. Not only the batters the bowlers also rose to the occasion.
Time for the post-match presentation ceremony with Bazid Khan.
Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings captain): I think we scored very well on this wicket, It was a tough wicket, we didn’t bowl well. We didn't hit the right lengths and even the fielding was poor. Not really, I think we bowled too full or too short. I think it's the start of the tournament, having said that two games are gone now. We have to come hard now. Just some of the tweaks we need to do, once we set our combination we will be good to go. TKC took me on the other day but I knew I will come back and bowled normal stuff today.
Azam Khan: Yeah, it’s been a great start for me. I was in form in the BPL as well, carrying it on for the team. I had t finish the game but it happens. I am happy that we won the game. It does help your batting, you feel nice about yourself whenever you time the ball well. I have a different role at Islamabad United. Sometimes I play as a floater and sometimes as a finisher. It's challenging but I am enjoying it. The most percentage of our wins is we always go from the first ball. That has been our approach. Great start for the team and it will boost the new guys coming in.
Islamabad United won by 4 wickets (with 10 deliveries to spare)
Karachi Kings 173/7 in 20 overs Haider Ali 59(45) | Rumman Raees 2/26(4)
Islamabad United 178/6 in 18.2 overs Colin Munro 58(28) | Azam Khan 44(28) | Mohammad Amir 2/30(4)
It wasn’t the easiest of targets for Islamabad United. Both teams needed a good start to get themselves in the ascendancy. Hasan Nawaz who was sent into bat at the top of the order in the company of Paul Stirling couldn’t quite make an impact and was dismissed early by Mohammad Amir. Paul Stirling struck a couple of impressive shots before rapping right in front of the stumps by Musa Khan.
From there on, it was the duo of Colin Munro and Rassie van der Dussen who forged a vital partnership to get themselves back in the game. Munro in particular started off with three boundaries in the very first over he faced which turned the momentum in their favor. Rassie was also getting into the act and played some delightful shots in the company of Munro.
Both batters found the boundaries with ease and kept the scoreboard moving along. It was Imad Wasim who provided the breakthrough as he bowled an arm ball that sneaked through Rassie’s defence and rattled the stumps. Azam Khan joined Munro at the crease and the duo looked at ease. It was carnage on display from the duo as the runs started coming thick and fast.
Munro went on to score a fine half-century and looked set to take his side over the line before a mix-up in the middle with Azam brought about his downfall. Azam was going great guns and kept piling the agony on the Karachi Kings. Munro raced away to 58 off 28 deliveries before his dismissal while Azam Khan chipped in with 44 off 28. In the end, it was a massive blow from Tom Curran which sealed the deal for Islamabad.
Earlier in the day, the Karachi Kings could only muster 173 in their allotted 20 overs after being put into bat. Haider Ali was the top-scorer for the Kings with a knock of 59 and was instrumental in taking them to a more than competitive score. Rumman Raees bowled brilliantly up front and was the pick of the bowlers.
That's a clinical performance from Islamabad United, winning convincingly by 4 wickets and with 10 deliveries to spare. They got on board while the Karachi Kings have lost two in two.
18.2 Shoaib Malik to Tom Curran, SIX! That is game set and match. Right in the slot from Shoaib Malik, tossed up on the stumps and Curran with a mighty heave across the line manages to nail that from the centre of the bat and goes deep into the crowd over deep midwicket.
18.1 Shoaib Malik to Asif Ali, drives this fullish one a shade outside off down towards long-off for a single.
Shoaib Malik, right-arm off break comes into the attack.
18
overs
171/6score
4
4
W
4
1lb
1
runs
Asif Ali*
3(4)
Tom Curran
4(2)
Mohammad Amir
2/30
17.6 Mohammad Amir to Asif Ali, Asif Ali swipes away the length delivery a shade outside off down towards the deep midwicket region for a single.
17.5 Mohammad Amir to Tom Curran, slower delivery on a length around leg, Tom Curran couldn't quite get that away towards the on side. Just a leg bye single.
17.4 Mohammad Amir to Tom Curran, FOUR! Again Amir drops it in short, good pace from the pacer but Tom Curran finds the boundary. Goes for a pull and ends up getting a top edge which flies over the keeper's head and off to the fence.
Tom Curran, RHB comes out to the crease.
17.3 Mohammad Amir to Faheem Ashraf, WICKET! Mohammad Amir says you are kidding me. Goodness gracious me, that is a stunning catch if the fielder got it cleanly. Short of a length delivery from Amir and disdainfully pulled away down towards the midwicket region. A stunning take from Irfan Khan, times his dive to perfection and clings onto it. Came very low and it would certainly rank among one of the best catches in the tournament.
17.2 Mohammad Amir to Faheem Ashraf, FOUR! This time again short, was a slower one outside off, Faheem places it past point and the deep point fielder didn't quite pick that up. He was never in the race to be honest
17.1 Mohammad Amir to Faheem Ashraf, FOUR! Short and wide and Faheem Ashraf is not going to miss out. Carves it away uppishly over the backward point fielder and it races away to the fence.
Video
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Asif Ali
*
Mohammad Amir
National Stadium, Karachi
