Alex Hales, Asif see Islamabad through, Karachi Kings eliminated

Islamabad United 164 for 6 (Hales 41, Delport 38, Talat 32, Asif 24*, Umer 2-16) beat Karachi Kings 161 for 9 (Babar 42, Munro 32, Musa 3-42, Faheem 2-30) by 4 wickets

How the game played out

Karachi Kings may be one of the less prolific sides in this competition's brief history, but they are the only side to have knocked Islamabad United out of any PSL tournament. That victory came in an Eliminator two years ago. But today, Islamabad United avenged that loss in a scrappy, entertaining game where both sides chugged along like an antique car on a dodgy engine, hurtling along seemingly without control before grinding to a halt at various stages of their innings. The upshot was a four-wicket win for Islamabad, who chased down Karachi's 161 with three balls to spare.

Despite the loss, the most memorable part of the game was arguably the first six overs. Karachi had courageously won the toss and chosen to bat first in a tournament where that decision is close to sacrilege, and blistered to 50 in just 20 balls as Colin Munro finally began to make good on the talent based on which he was signed. When he feathered an edge to Mohammad Musa, he had smashed 32 runs in a mere 11 balls, and Karachi were motoring along at 17 an over. They would go on to add an eye-watering 78 in the first six, as the boundaries flew like confetti.

Islamabad came back to choke them after the Powerplay ended, and somehow maintained that stranglehold right throughout the innings, with Karachi only just managing to double their Powerplay total, in the end limping to 161 for nine. Most of Islamabad's bowlers had recovered their figures, and the one who was most expensive - Muhammad Musa - was the highest wicket-taker, having removed Munro, Ingram and Iftikhar Ahmed.

Islamabad's chase always looked tight, not helped by a slow start and Ronchi's early departure. Alex Hales and Cameron Delport saw them through the Powerplay, but the nerves wouldn't have been eased as the asking rate continued to rise in the face of a stellar bowling attack and a world-class spell from Umer Khan. Towards the end, it came down to Islamabad's own local talent in Faheem Ashraf, Asif Ali and Hussain Talat to manage the asking rate. Mohammad Amir missed his lines once too often, Babar Azam dropped a catch once too frequently and Karachi were simply a few too short in the final overs. It all amounted to Islamabad getting to the finish line just in time, dashing Karachi's hopes of a title on home soil.

Turning point

Karachi began to struggle as soon as that whirlwind of a Powerplay came to a close, but the final three overs were especially ruinous to their chances. Positioned at 150 for six with three overs to go, they still had the opportunity to pose a stiff challenge with a brisk finish. Instead, the last three overs saw a mere 11 runs scored.

Star of the day

Pakistan have swooned over the fast bowling gems they may have unearthed this tournament, and bemoaned the lack of exciting local batsmen. But the find of the competition may be 19-year old Umer Khan, perhaps the most promising spinner to come out of the PSL since Shadab Khan. Having impressed ever since he got AB de Villiers out weeks ago, Umer has found a way to get the biggest names of the planet out just when Karachi have required him to. His spell today was one of the spells of the tournament, with the teenager the only bowler to find genuine drift and turn on a flat wicket. He wasn't afraid of flighting the ball, and found due rewards, finding the outside edges of Delport and Chadwick Walton within three deliveries of each other. He ended up with 4-0-16-2, and if ever a performance deserved not to end up in the losing side, it was his.

The big miss

Ronchi has the highest strike rate in the world off the first 10 balls, but the New Zealand opener was strangely subdued over that period today. Valued around the world because he doesn't need so much as a warm-up ball to begin attacking the bowlers, Ronchi played out nine deliveries today, unable to get one to the boundary rope. Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir and Aamer Yamin all executed their plans perfectly, pitching the ball short of a length. It deprived Ronchi of the ability to strike the ball through the line. The change-up came off his ninth ball, with Yamin sending down a wide yorker that Ronchi could only mishit to mid-on. 5 off 9 is an unlikely innings breakdown for the Islamabad talisman, and in a game of exceptionally fine margins, they almost ended up paying for it.

Big picture

Karachi bow out with today's defeat, with Islamabad through to the playoff with Peshawar tomorrow. The winner of that contest plays Quetta Gladiators in the final.

Kamran, Imam, Hasan Ali dismantle Karachi Kings

Peshawar Zalmi 203 for 7 (Kamran 86, Imam 59, Amir 3-24) beat Karachi Kings 142 (Ingram 71, Imad 30, Hasan Ali 3-15) by 61 runs

How the game played out

There was never likely to be much on the line in this game. A victory for Karachi Kings might have put them level with Peshawar Zalmi on 12 points, but so poor had Kings' run rate been, and so healthy was Zalmi's that Kings would have had to chase down Zalmi's target in 9.1 overs to finish in the top two.

Very quickly, it became apparent that Zalmi was not going to roll over so easily. Usman Shinwari had been Kings' hero as he bowled an outstanding final over on Sunday night, but on Monday, it was in his first over that the opposition's charge began. Kamran Akmal struck three fours off that first Shinwari over - the most attractive of his shots an on-the-up drive to pierce the covers. He and Imam-ul-Haq, who hit three fours himself in the fourth over of the innings, were outstanding in the Powerplay. Together they put on 61 by the end of six overs - Akmal hitting two sixes off spin to make 37 of those runs.

Where Imam slowed down a touch when the field restrictions ended, Akmal's assault maintained its intensity. He was sweeping Umer Khan for six, pummeling Imad Wasim down the ground, and blasting the quicks around the ground as well, though not with quite the same frequency. In the 12th over, bowled by Umer, he hit a four, six and a four in succession. With Imam (who had earlier been dropped on 32 off the bowling of Shinwari, in the ninth over) also having struck a six before turning the strike over to Akmal, Zalmi plundered 23 off that over. Umer's economy rate lay in tatters - him having given away 45 off three overs.

The partnership - worth 137 in 13.2 overs - was easily Zalmi's best ever opening stand. Akmal was first to go, in what was perhaps the most eventful over of the innings, bowled by Colin Munro. After he had had Akmal caught at extra cover for 86 off 48 balls, including 10 fours and five sixes, Munro was immediately monstered for two sixes down the ground by Kieron Pollard. Then, in fifth ball of the over, Pollard tried to hit his third consecutive six and holed out to long off, leaving Munro to perform celebrations that might have been interpreted as a send-off in international cricket, though the PSL match officials might be a little more lenient. In any case, the over had two sixes and two wickets in the space of four balls.

Having been 150 for 2 after 14 overs, perhaps Zalmi would have wanted a score in the range of 220, rather than the 203 for 7 that they ended up with, but it did not matter that they ran out of steam towards the end of their innings - Amir coming back to bowl some excellent overs at the death.

With ball in hand, Zalmi were almost as irresistible as they had been in the first innings. Hasan Ali and Sameen Gul both struck early to leave Kings two down after two overs - Gul removing the dangerous Babar Azam. By the end of the eighth over, Wahab Riaz had struck as well, and the required rate was well over 11.

Colin Ingram produced a sustained assault, hitting 71 off 37 balls in an innings that featured seven fours and four sixes, but he was caught at mid-off off the bowling of Tymal Mills, and Kings' innings unraveled spectacularly from there. Having been 125 for 5 in the middle of the 14th over, they ended up being all out in the 17th, with 142 runs on the board. Hasan Ali buttressed his reputation as the league's best bowler with 3 for 15, and now sits two wickets clear of Islamabad United's Faheem Ashraf on the wicket-takers' list, with 21 dismissals to his name.

Turning point

This was basically all one-way traffic, wasn't it? Zalmi made only one run in the first over - bowled by Amir - but reaped 14 in the second to take Kings by the collar, and did not relinquish their grip from there onwards. Zalmi did lose five wickets for 53 runs in the last six overs of their innings, but they had made so much ground earlier on, that theirs was always a commanding match position. When Kings lost their top three inside the first four overs, it was beyond even the considerable powers of Ingram to get them back in the game.

Star of the day

The easy choice would be Kamran Akmal, for his 86 at a strike rate of 179. But almost as impressive was Amir, who even despite Hasan's superior figures, was the best bowler of the evening. Where Hasan had the benefit of scoreboard pressure, Amir was the talisman in Kings' misfiring attack, taking 3 for 24 from his four overs. It was his last two overs that helped restrict Zalmi, and prevented the opposition from turning their outstanding total into a truly gargantuan one.

The big miss

Perhaps it would not have made a huge difference to the outcome, but had a diving Liam Livingstone held on to a tough catch off Imam-ul-Haq in the ninth over, they would have dented that wonderful opening stand. Imam went on to add 27 more runs, finishing on 59 off 40 balls.

Where the teams stand

Zalmi have cemented their place in Wednesday's qualifier against Quetta Gladiators. In fact, so comprehensive was this win, that Zalmi actually finished the league stage top of the table with 14 points, which is the same as Gladiators, only Zalmi have a superior net run rate.

Kings, who had confirmed their presence in the playoffs with that sensational win over Gladiators on Sunday night, will play the first eliminator, against Islamabad United on Thursday. The winner of the eliminator, and the loser of the Gladiators v Zalmi qualifier, will then play what is effectively a semi-final on Friday. The winner of the Gladiators v Zalmi game goes straight through to the final.

Sohail Iftikhar, Imad Wasim see off tricky chase for Karachi Kings

Karachi Kings 134 for 5 (Livingstone 38, Iftikhar 33*, Imad 19*, Lamichhane 2-17) beat Lahore Qalandars 133 for 5 (de Villiers 33, Sohail 29*, Iftikhar 2-4) by five wickets

How the game played out

Karachi and Lahore are the two largest cities in Pakistan, boasting a population in excess of 25 million. These are gigantic numbers, but when the two meet in the PSL, big numbers are in short supply. The two played out an edgy low-scoring contest for the second time in ten days, but this time Karachi Kings prevailed, thanks to an an all-round performance from Iftikhar Ahmed helping them to a five-wicket win. Karachi's need was greater, and they propel themselves back in contention for the playoffs.

It was a subdued batting performance from Lahore, who never seemed to get the lift-off they needed to put up a more testing total. Fakhar Zaman was well contained at the top, while Haris Sohail could manage no more than a start. Even AB de Villiers couldn't be his destructive self, and even though the South African was at the crease for the better part of Lahore's innings, they would have been hoping for more than a somewhat plodding 32-ball 33. Iftikhar was the pick of Karachi's bowlers, oddly bowling just two overs, but conceding just four runs and taking the wickets of Fakhar and Haris in the process. It meant they put up 133, left needing another big performance from their bowlers on a track that had begun to slow.

The bowlers did give it a right go, with Sandeep Lamichhane continuing his dazzling form. He took 2 for 17 in his four, with David Weise impressively economical and Haris Rauf irrepressibly valiant. But not everyone was able to deliver in the way they needed to defend a low total. Yasir Shah was disappointing and expensive, and when Aizaz Cheema bowled a no-ball that went for four, Imad Wasim thumped the ensuing free hit for another boundary. That was it for the Lahore fightback, and impressive as it had been, the flawlessness necessary to defend 133 wasn't quite there.

Turning point

Iftikhar's first over was the stuff of dreams for Imad's side. He bowled wide to the left-hander, frustrating Fakhar, who skied his second ball straight to a fielder. Two balls later, he had de Villiers sweeping straight to Babar Azam, who dropped a simple catch. Off the last ball, there was a run-out chance, de Villiers surviving by inches. Iftikhar's day had just begun, and Lahore would never get on the front foot again.

Fakhar opened the bowling in defense of a low total. There was little margin for error in the Powerplay, and the gamble did not work. Karachi carted him around for 14, and they were already off and running.

Star of the day

He won't get the plaudits today because there was just so much happening, but just when Karachi seemed like they might lose their way, Liam Livingstone's calm head set them back on course. Coming in during a time when Karachi had scored just 10 runs in four overs, he began his innings by taking six singles in Lamichhane's third over. In the next two overs, he found a four and a six off Weise and Yasir to keep the asking rate in check. That fifty-run partnership with Colin Ingram may not be the most explosive, but it was precisely what Karachi required in a moment when Lahore threatened to undo all their good work. Livingstone ensured that wouldn't happen, scoring 38 off 34 to become the tournament's leading run-scorer, and more importantly, keep his side in real contention.

The big miss

It might have been conjectured that bowling with Yasir would give Lamichhane an invaluable learning experience, but on the evidence of their performances, much of the advice may be heading the other way. While Lamichhane has thrived after a rough start, Yasir's game looks like it has fallen away badly. He never looked in control of the spinning deliveries, and whenever he tried the googly, he invariably ended up dragging it short. The batsmen appeared to pick him out of the hand far better than they did the Nepalese teenager.

The 11th over saw Livingstone mete out the toughest punishment, smashing him for two fours and a six on an over that cost 18. That brought the asking rate from 7.5 to almost a run a ball, with Yasir conceding 21 off 3.1 overs. The contrast of Lamichhane's success gives the more experienced Yasir plenty to ponder with regards to adapting his game for the shortest format.

Where the teams stand

Karachi and Lahore now both have three wins in seven games, occupying fourth and fifth positions respectively. They're ahead of Multan Sultans, who have just two wins in seven.

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kieron Pollard, Umer Amin smash Peshawar Zalmi to victory

Peshawar Zalmi 176 for 3 (Umar Amin 54*, Pollard 52*) beat Multan Sultans 172 for 5 (Charles 57, Vince 41) by seven wickets

Umar Amin watches on fly off his bat PSL

How the game played out

Twin fifties by Umar Amin and Kieron Pollard helped Peshawar Zalmi surge past Multan Sultans' total of 172 in a seven-wicket win at Dubai.

Sultans got off to a red-hot start reaching 65 for 1 in the Powerplay, after being sent in, and continued to cruise behind Johnson Charles' 26-ball half-century. But after Charles fell in the 13th at 114 for 2, there was no finishing kick.

By comparison, Zalmi had a much slower start but paced their chase well. Amin played the anchor role in a 50-run third-wicket stand with Imam-Ul-Haq before continuing to play second fiddle to Pollard in their unbeaten 91-run stand. His seventh four in a 37-ball 54 ensured Zalmi got across the line with four balls to spare.

The result completes a season sweep for Zalmi over Sultans after they overcame another Charles half-century just four days earlier.

Turning points

Charles got going in the sixth over, hitting Wahab Riaz for four boundaries in the over. Six of his eight fours wound up coming off the left-arm quick, including the one that brought up Sultans' hundred in the 11th over.

Liam Dawson got lucky in the 13th when a half-tracker stayed very low to slip under Charles' attempted pull, bowling him for 57.

Zalmi needed 54 off 26 balls and Pollard was on 14 when he skied a pull off Mohammad Irfan to Charles at deep midwicket, but the fielder fumbled a fairly easy chance. Pollard struck Junaid for six over midwicket off the very next ball he faced in the 17th, then clubbed three sixes in a row to end the 18th and bring up a 25-ball 50. Suddenly, Zalmi only needed 13 off 12 balls.

Star of the day

Zalmi's pedestrian Powerplay - 39 for 2 - meant they were behind the asking rate for much of the innings before Pollard came to the crease in the 12th over. After getting off the mark with a six against Shahid Afridi, he made the most of the second life offered by Charles. In the span of three balls, he took the required rate down from more than 12 to a shade over six heading into the final two overs.

The big miss

Imam went to pull a good length ball from Mohammad Ilyas in the fifth over but missed in a big way, resulting in a severe blow to the unmentionables. After a four-minute delay for treatment from the physio, he was finally able to resume on 10 and eventually made 39 before he was stumped charging Afridi.

Where the teams stand

Zalmi's fourth win draws them level with Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators on eight points, but they top the table thanks to a vastly superior net run-rate. Sultans remain in fifth place on four points, fractionally ahead of Karachi Kings on net run-rate.

Livingstone, Babar Azam, M.Amir star in Karachi Kings' opening win

Karachi Kings 183 for 6 (Livingstone 82, Babar 77, Green 3-32) beat Multan Sultans 176 for 9 (Malik 52, Evans 49, Amir 4-25) by seven runs

How the game played out

A record PSL stand between debutant Liam Livingstone and the No.1 T20I batsman Babar Azam followed by Mohammad Amir's expertise at the death fashioned a tight seven-run opening win for Karachi Kings.

Babar Azam chops one down to third man PCB/PSL

How did this even get this tight after Livingstone and Babar struck up a 157-run opening stand - the highest for any wicket in the league? After the fireworks at the top, Karachi's innings fizzled out in the end as they lost 6 for 26 to be limited to 183 for 6.

Multan Sultans' captain Shoaib Malik blitzed a 24-ball fifty - headlined by 4,4,4,4,6 off Ravi Bopara in the 14th over - and then former Karachi King Shahid Afridi and Hammad Azam threatened a late jailbreak in the chase. But Amir's bag of slower cutters and rapid yorkers, combined with sharp catching in the outfield sealed Multan's fate.

Turning points

Livingstone and Babar teed off against the new ball on a pitch that got slower as the match progressed. They ran up 53 in the Powerplay and never looked back. Multan then managed only 38 for 1 in their first six overs.

When Multan needed 20 off the last two overs with five wickets in hand, they were in with a strong chance to script a come-from-behind win. But Amir got rid of Afridi and Azam in a four-run penultimate over to set Multan up for a narrow defeat.

Star of the day

The new kid on the block: Livingstone. He's a star for Lancashire in the T20 Blast in England and even had an IPL contract with Rajasthan Royals before he forayed into the PSL. He regularly ventured down the track and upset the lines and lengths of Multan's bowlers. The highlight of his 43-ball 82 was the breathtaking one-handed six off Mohammad Ilyas in the 14th over. When the seamer pitched one up on off, Livingstone's bottom hand flew off the bat, but he still generated enough power to launch it over the long-off boundary with the top hand.

And oh, he even dared to step out against Afridi's fizzing arm balls. One such advance down the pitch saw him drill Afridi over the sightscreen.

The big miss

Karachi's collapse of 6 for 26. After the rollicking opening stand, they were well-placed to notch up a 200-plus total, but their middle order faltered against Chris Green's offbreaks and the change-ups from Junaid Khan and Andre Russell. On another day, such a collapse might have cost them the game. However on this day, Amir saved them.

Where the teams stand

This is only the second game of the season. Karachi slotted in behind Islamabad United, who top the table by virtue of a superior run rate. Multan are right behind Karachi while Lahore Qalandars are at a familiar position: rock-bottom.


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Lahore final could overlay way for World XI visit to PakistanTonight cricket was a champion - Sammy

Tonight cricket was a champion - Sammy

The PCB is hoping to expand upon the energy of an effective and episode free Pakistan Super League (PSL) last in Lahore on Sunday, by facilitating a T20 arrangement in the nation against a group of outside players in September this year.

It is hazy at present what the way of the visiting side will be. A senior PCB official said it would be a "federation XI" however a report in the Guardian alluded to a World XI.

Giles Clarke, the ECB president, and leader of the ICC's Pakistan Task Force, is a main thrust behind the wander. He went to Pakistan in January and was given briefings on security game plans for going to sides. It was his first visit to the nation as leader of the Pakistan Task Force and he met with senior authorities of the Punjab government to survey the security courses of action. He then gave an introduction on his visit at the ICC executive meeting before long.

On Monday, he praised PCB director Shaharyar Khan on the "effective arranging" of the PSL last, calling it a "gigantic accomplishment". Alluding to the arrangement, he stated: "Exceptionally very much played. We will be there in September."

As per the Guardian, the group that will visit Pakistan is required to amass in Dubai on September 17 preceding traveling to Lahore for the matches on September 22, 23, 28 and 29.

Among the worldwide players to play in the PSL last were Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Chris Jordan and Morne van Wyk, who went in projectile verification transports to the ground in the midst of high security.

Sammy, who captained Peshawar Zalmi to a 58-run win in the last, talked in sparkling terms about the experience.

"To me it was more than only an amusement," he said after the match. "When you have not been in a place you generally have your questions. You get diverse standpoints, distinctive assessments. However, I addressed Javed Afridi, the Peshawar group owner] and Shahid Afridi and they impacted my choice to come here.

"The fans here should see their players playing as they haven't seen it for a long time. I am happy I came here. Being here had a craving for playing in St Lucia, playing in India or anyplace else on the planet. Also, similar to I said at the hurl, today I felt cricket was the champ."

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PCB confirms PSL final in Lahore

The PCB has confirmed that the Pakistan Super Gathering last will be held in Lahore on Walk 7 and the square is drawing in crisis strategies to supplant abroad players who are unwilling to go to the country in view of security concerns.

The board has held another draft in the latest week of February to gain outside players will's character willing to go to Pakistan set up of the people who quit. The decision was taken after a couple of outside players were unverifiable about going to Pakistan for the last; the straggling leftovers of the opposition will be played in Dubai and Sharjah beginning on February 9.

In the late regulating official meeting it was picked that the remainder of PSL will be held in Lahore, a PCB delegate told ESPNcricinfo. PCB will endeavor to induce players to go to Pakistan however in the most desperate result possible we will have another draft for the players who are set up to visit Pakistan.

If no outside players agree to play in Pakistan, the last will be played in Lahore with substitution neighborhood players.

Once the gatherings for the finals are picked and their image or remote players decay to go to Lahore, we will make another draft with a pool from the present 30-35 players of PSL, Najam Sethi, PCB's head of authority admonitory gathering, said. We will probably require around five to ten players for Lahore, and those players who may be available from the discarded three gatherings can then get picked through this draft for the last.

The PCB has figured out how to prepare for the last, which until a month back was subject to confided in status. With each one of the confirmations from the Punjab government and security workplaces, the PCB is sure about continuing with the course of action. The heap up has bought four invulnerable transports in an offer to take additional security endeavors to induce players and has in advance discussed making it a fly-in, fly-out approach for the gatherings.

FICA, the overall players' association, regardless, said the direction it has gotten is that flying out to Pakistan is still a peril for widespread players. FICA's comments came a day after Sethi at first said the last would be played in Lahore. In any case, an updated free assessment is being done which will be a main issue in players' fundamental administration.

A long way from the PSL last, the PCB has also invited West Independents to visit Pakistan for two T20s in Lahore before flying out to play another two T20s at Lauderhill in Florida. The visit is at risk to put stock in status and assention from the West Independents Players' Alliance.

ESPNcricinfo has learnt that Giles Clarke, the ECB president who headed up the ICC's one of a kind Pakistan Group, will visit the country not long from now close by powers from West Non standard players to lead a recce of the scenes as a bit of their assessment before asserting the visit. In any case, the ICC said they were excluded in Clarke's visit. "There is no formal trip orchestrated in such way with respect to ICC," a delegate said.

Since the ambush on the Sri Lanka bunch transport in 2009, Zimbabwe are the fundamental Full Part to visit Pakistan when they went to for a three-organize ODI course of action in 2015.