Shadab powers Islamabad United past Karachi Kings by six wickets

KARACHI: Islamabad United continued their unbeaten run in the HBL PSL 2025, clinching their fourth consecutive victory by outclassing Karachi Kings with a comfortable six-wicket win led by a brilliant all-round performance from captain Shadab Khan at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday night.

Chasing a modest 129 in the 10th match of the tournament, United started positively, with openers Sahibzada Farhan and Azam Khan putting together a solid 34-run stand in just 4.1 overs.

However, the breakthrough came courtesy to Hasan Ali, who dismissed the in-form Farhan for 30 off 18 deliveries — an innings that included five boundaries and a six — with skipper David Warner taking a sharp, low catch. Just four balls later, Hasan struck again, removing Colin Munro for four, briefly lifting Karachi’s hopes.

United skipper Shadab Khan, who was adjudged the player of the match, took charge and steadied the innings, building a match-defining 65-run stand for the third wicket with Azam Khan. The pair rotated strike effectively and punished the loose deliveries.

Shadab capped off his all-round performance with a composed 47 off 40 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes. Azam supported well with a run-a-ball 31.

Mohammad Nawaz, who remained unbeaten on 8, struck the winning run as United chased down the target in 17.1 overs.

For Kings, Hasan was the standout bowler, finishing with 2 for 28 from his four overs. Abbas Afridi and Mohammad Nabi picked up a wicket each.

In the first innings, United’s bowling unit produced a clinical performance to restrict the Kings to a modest 128 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs, after opting to field first.

On a slow surface at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, United’s pace attack set the tone early, leaving them tottering at 22 for two wickets inside four overs.

The home team skipper David Warner was dismissed with just three runs, while the in-form James Vince followed soon after, managing only four.

Emerging wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig and New Zealand’s Tim Seifert then attempted to rebuild the innings. The pair added a cautious 39 runs for the third wicket, rotating strike and trying to negotiate United’s disciplined bowling.

However, the resistance was broken in the 10th over by Shadab Khan, who had Baig caught after a 17-ball 20 that included four boundaries. Not long after, Seifert gifted a simple catch to Imad Wasim off his bowling, departing for a sluggish 30 off 37 balls with just one boundary.

Shadab struck again in the 16th over to remove Mohammad Irfan Khan (5) before Naseem Shah’s short ball saw off Khushdil Shah in the 17th over.

Jason Holder dismissed Aamir Jamal in the 18th over to keep the pressure on.

It was Abbas Afridi’s late cameo that took Karachi to 128, as he smashed an unbeaten 24 off just nine balls, laced with one four and three sixes.

For United, Shadab led the way with 2 for 17 in four overs, while Naseem and Holder also took two scalps each. Imad took one scalp for 17 runs in four overs.