HBL PSL Day 4 proved to be a perfect Sunday for the cricket fans, particularly for those supporting Islamabad United and Karachi Kings as both teams managed to get home in low-scoring encounters.
Match 6: Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans
Toss: Islamabad United, elected to bowl.
Multan Sultans Innings
Overcast conditions and bowlers like Mohammad Sami, Rumman Raees and Steven Finn; it was bound to be a tough life for the Multan’s batsmen, as the bowlers devastated the top order leaving the opponents reeling at 4-31 in 5.2 overs.
An act of resistance from Shoaib Malik and Kieron Pollard took the total to 85 before Pollard adjudged lbw off the bowling of Andre Russel. It was a walk in the park for the United bowlers after Pollard’s wicket as they bowled out the opposition for 113.
Islamabad captain Rumman Raees was exceptional both with the captaincy and with the ball as he took 3 wickets for 14 runs.
Islamabad United Innings
Chasing 114, it was supposed to be an easy chase for the United batting line, however, Imran Tahir with his three wickets made sure it wasn’t as easy as the opposition had imagined.
The young left-hander Hussain Talat (48*) kept the team together as he was cautious in his approach early on, however, he accelerated at the right time to take his team over the line with 5 wickets in hand.
Summary: Islamabad United won by 5 wickets with 14 balls remaining.
1st Innings:
Multan Sultans — 113 all out (19.5 overs)
Shoaib Malik 35 (36)
Rumman Raees 3-14 (3.5 overs)
2nd Innings:
Islamabad United — 117 for 5 (17.4 overs)
Hussain Talat 48* (34)
Imran Tahir 3-19 (4 overs)
Man of the Match: Hussain Talat (Islamabad United)
Match 7: Karachi Kings vs Peshawar Zalmi
Toss: Peshawar Zalmi, elected to bat
Peshawar Zalmi Innings
The Peshawar openers failed to provide a steady start as the in-form Mohammad Amir, making use of the good bowling conditions, removed both the openers at 27.
None of the batsmen enjoyed the batting as the Karachi bowlers ripped through the Peshawar batting. The lone warrior Dwayne Smith upped the ante in the last overs smashing 71* from 51 balls to take the team to 131.
Mohammad Amir and Shahid Afridi grabbed two wickets each, pushing Zalmi on the back foot.
Karachi Kings Innings
Karachi Kings went about the chase swiftly as the batsmen raised the team fifty in 7 overs with just one wicket down.
Babar Azam and Joe Denly steered the chase before Babar was undone by the teenager Ibtisam Shiekh who ended up with figures of 2-25 in his 4 overs.
Imad Wasim and Ravi Bopara ensured that the team strode to victory in the final over after some tense moments for the Karachi fans.
Two wins out of two helped Karachi climb to the top of the points table.
Summary: Karachi Kings won by 5 wickets with 2 balls remaining.
1st Innings:
Peshawar Zalmi — 131 for 9 (20 overs)
Dwayne Smith 71* (51)
Mohammad Amir 2-6 (2 overs)
2nd Innings:
Karachi Kings — 135 for 5 (19.4 overs)
Joe Denly 29 (39)
Ibtisam Sheikh 2-25 (4 overs)
Man of the Match: Dwayne Smith (Peshawar Zalmi)
