Every News: Lucky Asif helps Islamabad edge Karachi in HBL PSL

Lucky Asif helps Islamabad edge Karachi in HBL PSL
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DUBAI: After being dropped on 13, Asif Ali smashed an aggressive half century to steer Islamabad United to a five-wicket win against Karachi Kings in their PSL match in Dubai on Wednesday night.Asif was dropped by substitute fielder Mohammad Rizwan at covers with the asking rate at 11. He went on to clobber 38-ball 70 which helped title holders chase down a target of 169 in 20 overs for their fourth win in the tournament.But Karachi Kings did fight in the penultimate over, with 11 needed. Mohammad Amir conceded only four to leave seven off the final over, which was bowled by their skipper Imad Wasim. He conceded a single off the first ball but Shadab Khan lifted him over long-on for a huge six to clinch the victory.Karachi Kings were lifted to 168-8 by Babar Azam’s 50-ball 68 with ten boundaries, and 31-ball 56 from Liam Livingstone, laced with three sixes and five boundaries after they were put into bat by Islamabad United.Asif smashed six sixes and five boundaries in his fiery knock, adding 93 for the fourth wicket with Phil Salt, who made an enterprising 38-ball 46 with six boundaries.They built the innings after youthful left-arm spinner Umer Khan (2-29) had jolted Islamabad with wickets of Luke Ronchi (26) and Hussain Talat (one) in the seventh over.Skipper Shadab praised his bowlers and Asif. “We knew that if we got wickets, the run-rate would fall and that happened. The pitch wasn’t easy, so we restricted them after their good start.”Karachi captain Imad pointed out last five overs in batting. “We made less runs in the last five overs and then did not bowl as per plans and that hurt,” said Imad.It was a contrasting story of first ten overs and the last ten. Karachi had raced to 100 in 10.1 overs for the loss of just one wicket but lost seven wickets for just 67 in the last ten.Babar and Livingstone lifted Karachi after New Zealander Colin Munro flopped for the third match in a row, scoring just four before becoming Rumman Raees’s first wicket in the third over.Babar smashed two consecutive boundaries in the first over. Livingstone hit a four and six each off Samit Patel and then Faheem Ashraf before completing his second half century of the tournament off just 29 balls. When he was caught at short third man off Shadab the flow of runs stopped. Raees dismissed danger-man Colin Ingram for 13 and Imad for two to check Karachi’s progress.Babar also holed out off Faheem in the penultimate over. Karachi managed just 34 in the last five overs. Islamabad are now perched on top of the six-team table with eight points from seven matches. They have recorded four wins and lost three games and are ahead of Quetta Gladiators on the basis of net run-rate. Quetta are second with eight points with four wins and two defeats.Islamabad United won tossKarachi KingsBabar Azam c Rumman b Faheem 68C Munro c Asif b Rumman 4L S Livingstone c Amad b Shadab 56C A Ingram c Amad b Rumman 13†B R Dunk run out 12*Imad Wasim b Rumman 2Aamer Yamin b Amad 3Iftikhar Ahmed not out 0Mohammad Amir run out 6Extras (lb 2, w 2) 4Total (8 wickets, 20 overs) 168Did not bat: Umer Khan, Usman ShinwariFall: 1-23, 2-101, 3-133, 4-153, 5-156, 6-161, 7-162, 8-168Bowling: Rumman 4-0-27-3; Musa 2-0-23-0; Patel 2-0-22-0; Faheem 4-0-40-1; Shadab 4-0-27-1; Amad 4-0-27-1Islamabad United†L Ronchi c Ingram b Umer 26C S Delport c Ingram b Imad 0P D Salt c Aamer b Usman 46Hussain Talat st Dunk b Umer 1Asif Ali c Imad b Amir 70*Shadab Khan not out 11Faheem Ashraf not out 8Extras (lb 3, nb 1, w 3) 7Total (5 wickets, 19.2 overs) 169Did not bat: Amad Butt, S R Patel, Rumman Raees, Muhammad MusaFall: 1-1, 2-44, 3-47, 4-140, 5-152Bowling: Imad 3.2-0-31-1; Amir 4-0-23-1; Usman 4-0-44-1; Umer 4-0-29-2; Aamer 3-0-20-0; Munro 1-0-19-0Result: Islamabad United won by 5 wicketsMan of the Match: Asif Ali (IU)Umpires: Richard Illingworth (England) and Ahsan Raza (Pakistan). TV Umpire: Rashid Riaz (Pakistan)