LAHORE  -  A blistering 88 off just 35 balls from Alex Hales and a four-wicket haul by captain Shadab Khan powered Islamabad United to a thumping 79-run victory over Karachi Kings in the 30th match of HBL PSL 10 at the Pindi Stadium on Monday night.

Opting to bat first in their final league fixture, Islamabad United produced a batting masterclass, racking up a mammoth 251-5, the second-highest total in PSL history. Openers Alex Hales and Sahibzada Farhan launched an all-out assault on Karachi’s bowlers, putting on a sensational 153-run stand in just 11.3 overs.

Farhan was elegant yet aggressive, hammering 73 off 41 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes. But it was Hales who stole the show with his explosive 88 off 35 deliveries, laced with 6 fours and 8 towering sixes.  Following their departure, skipper Shadab Khan kept the scoreboard ticking with a 19-ball 42, featuring three sixes and three boundaries. Late cameos from Haider Ali (19* off 9) and Ben Dwarshuis (10* off 4) propelled Islamabad to a daunting total of 251/5. Karachi’s bowling attack had no answers, with every bowler conceding over 10 runs an over except.

In response, Karachi Kings never looked in control of the chase. Despite a brisk 43 from David Warner and 26 from Tim Seifert, the batting order collapsed under pressure. Shadab Khan ripped through the middle order, claiming 4-45, including the key wickets of Irfan Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nabi, and Hasan Ali. Salman Irshad supported well with 3-28, cleaning up the lower order as Karachi folded for 172 in 18.2 overs, falling short by 79 runs. Only Abbas Afridi offered late resistance with a quickfire 34 off 13 balls.

Scores in Brief

ISLAMABAD UNITED 251/5 in 20 overs (Alex Hales 88, Sahibzada Farhan 73, Shadab Khan 42) beat KARACHI KINGS 172 all out in 18.2 overs (David Warner 43, Abbas Afridi 34; Shadab Khan 4/45, Salman Irshad 3/28) by 79 runs.