KARACHI: Half-centuries from Samir Minhas and Devon Conway led Islamabad United to an impressive 8-wicket victory over Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11th match at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing a modest target of 151 runs, three-time champions India cruised to victory with the loss of just two wickets in 24 balls.
Their opening pair Minhas and Conway put on 93 in 10 overs to give United a sumptuous start to the chase.
Minhas hit a 36-ball 58 with 10 fours and dominated until he was stumped by Kings’ stand-in captain Moeen Ali in the last ball of the 10th over.
United suffered another shock in 14 balls as their in-form top-order batsman Mohammad Fogh could muster five before falling to Hasan Ali in the 13th over.
Conway was then joined by skipper Shadab Khan in the middle and the duo maintained United’s momentum with an unbeaten 43-run partnership that eventually took the visitors to glory in 16 overs.
The left-handed opener scored an unbeaten 53 off 36 balls with 6 fours and a six, while Shatab remained unbeaten on 31 off 16 balls with 2 sixes and a four.
Moeen and Hasan took one wicket each for Kings.
United skipper Shadab Khan’s decision to bat first paid off as the home side managed to post 150/6 in 20 overs despite a brave display from Hendricks.
The Kings got off to a poor start to their innings as rising batsman Saath Baig, promoted to opener, managed to hit a five-ball six before falling to Richard Gleeson in the second over.
After stumbling early on, the returning Jason Roy joined Reza Hendricks in the middle and the duo put on a 39-ball 62 for the Kings’ innings before United skipper Shadab was dismissed in the ninth over.
Roy scored a brisk 39 off 27 balls with the help of 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Shadab dismissed Salman Ali Agha in his next over, who hit four for sixes as the Kings slipped further to 77/3.
Hendricks put on another crucial partnership for the Kings as he put on 54 runs for the fourth wicket with Azam Khan, the former was dismissed by Gleeson in the 18th over and went on to score 34 off 29 balls with 3 fours and a six.
Kings suffered another setback in their batting as Faheem Ashraf sent Khushdil Shah back for two runs.
Hendricks returned after top-scoring with an unbeaten 51 off 44 balls with 4 fours.
Gleeson and captain Shadab jointly led United’s bowling with two wickets each, while Faheem and Mohammad Hasnain claimed a scalp each.