Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir and Usama Mir take 3 wickets each to keep hopes alive for the Karachi team.

By Abdullah Ansari (1st March, 2017)

Islamabad United Squad

Dwayne Smith, Nicholas Pooran, Brad Haddin, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Shane Watson, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Amad Butt, Rumman Raees, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Irfan.

Karachi Kings Squad

Babar Azam, Chris Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara*, Shoaib Malik, Ravi Bopara, Kieron Pollard, Imad Wasim, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Amir, Usama Mir, Usman Khan Shinwari.

Misbah won the toss and opted to field as Islamabad made three changes with Pooran, Amad and Asif Ali replacing Duckett, Ajmal and Hussain Talat while Karachi played an unchanged side. Karachi's innings started in a very quiet manner as the first two overs were maidens. Babar hit back by taking 18 off Irfan's over while Gayle hit a few boundaries before he fell to Rumman. Karachi's innings slowed down considerably as Babar was also dismissed, deceived by a googly from Shadab. Sangakkara and Malik struggled to up the ante, scoring at around run-a-ball before the former was caught off Watson. Bopara also fell to Watson with Shadab taking a brilliant catch while Malik was run out for 25, top scorer along with Babar. Imad hit a couple of boundaries but there was a sudden flood of wickets as Rumman struck thrice in an over to get Imad, Pollard and Sohail before Sami got Usama and Shinwari to wrap up the innings for 126.

Islamabad had a decent first couple of overs but then Amir struck to remove Smith via a superb diving catch by Sangakkara. Later in the over, Haddin chopped one onto his stumps. Asif and Misbah built a partnership with the former dropped by Pollard but they batted at a slow pace. At 47/2, Imad was the one who struck by getting Misbah bowled with an arm ball. In his next over, he cleaned up Watson as well to derail the chase. Shadab's promotion didn't yield success as he was caught at cover off Usama while Imad struck again in his next over, trapping Pooran LBW despite a review by the batsman. The chase was effectively ended in the next over as Asif Ali tried to guide one from Usama and hit it too fine, to the keeper, dismissed for 39 while Sami was out first ball after a review by the fielding side. Sohail dismissed Amad via a slower ball while Amir finished it off as Rumman was caught at long on, with the defending champions bowled out for 82, and knocked out of the tournament.

Next match: Peshawar Zalmi vs Karachi Kings

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