Islamabad United Crush Karachi Kings by 79 Runs to Secure Top-Two Spot
Islamabad United 251/5 (Hales 88, Farhan 73, Shadab 42) beat Karachi Kings 172 (Warner 43, Abbas 34, Shadab 4-45) by 79 runs
Islamabad United delivered a dominant all-round performance to storm into the top two of the standings, while Karachi Kings were pushed into the Eliminator. With a target of winning by at least 49 runs to ensure two chances at the final, United went above and beyond, registering a thumping 79-run victory.
The foundation was laid by a blistering 153-run opening partnership between Alex Hales (88) and Sahibzada Farhan (73) off just 69 balls. Skipper Shadab Khan added a quickfire 42 to help post a formidable total of 251/5—one of the highest in league history.
In reply, Karachi Kings started brightly, reaching 80/1 with David Warner (43) and Abbas (34) showing promise. But once United introduced their spin attack, the momentum flipped. Shadab Khan’s stellar spell of 4 for 45 led to a dramatic collapse, with Kings crumbling to 114/8 and eventually getting bowled out for 172.
Islamabad’s emphatic win not only boosted net run rate but confirmed their place in the Qualifier, keeping their title hopes firmly alive.
Published on 19 May
