DUBAI – Luke Ronchi’s fastest half-century helped his side to defeat Karachi Kings by eight wickets at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday and qualify for the Pakistan Super League 2018 final.
The United’s opener scored unbeaten 39-ball 94 to move his team to within one victory of their second title triumph in three years. The Kiwi player was declared man of the match.
Alex Hales made 14 off 11 balls with two fours and Samit Patel remained not out on 14, scored off just seven balls with three fours.
The United completed their eight-wicket victory in only 12.3 overs.
Earlier, batting first Karachi Kings made 154 runs for four wickets with the help of two aggressive fifties by Joe Denly and Colin Ingram after the team made a disastrous start, losing two wickets for 17.
They were 46 for three when Denly and Ingram got together to score 82 from 57 balls for the fourth wicket stand.
Ingram blasted an unbeaten 68 from just 39 balls, smashing six huge sixes and a four while Denly made 51 off 46 balls with four boundaries and a six.
Among others, Khurram Manzoor (6) and Babar Azam (nought) fell cheaply while stand-in captain Evoin Morgan could make 21.
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LIVE UPDATES
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Second Innings
Fastest 50s in the 2018 Pakistan Super League – all 3 are by Luke Ronchi #PSL2018 pic.twitter.com/db2EXwAlut
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 18, 2018
United gun down the target of 155 off 77 balls! Sensational striking by @ronchi04 earned United a spot in the final in Karachi.
Good luck @IsbUnited see you at NSK!
All the best @KarachiKingsARY for the play-off at GSL.#IUvKK #DilSeJaanLagaDe #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/LdQUiObWP2— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
First Innings
The 82 run stand between Denly & Ingram help @KarachiKingsARY to put up a competitive total on the score board.@IsbUnited need 155 runs to win a spot in the final of #HBLPSL 2018#IUvKK #DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/vVcPGJAb20
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
SIX! 19.2 Faheem Ashraf to Colin Ingram
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/ddYMtuYYSs— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
SIX! 10.1 Amad Butt to Colin Ingram
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/mnOYGc6EWp— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
SIX! 10.1 Amad Butt to Colin Ingram
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/mnOYGc6EWp— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
50 comes up for Karachi Kings!
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/L3VpvIIlWY— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
OUT! 8.1 Amad Butt to Eoin Morgan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/ugDnVXq8I8— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
OUT! 3.6 Mohammad Sami to Babar Azam
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/YCOV4vTVQ0— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
OUT! 3.4 Mohammad Sami to Khurram Manzoor
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf#IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/SZCWYH93RT— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
The winner will directly qualify for the final to be played in Karachi on March 25 while the losing side will have another opportunity to make it to the big clash after beating Peshawar Zalmi or Quetta Gladiators in the next round.
The match, which started at 9:00pm tonight, being broadcast live on PTV Sports and Ten Sports in Pakistan and the UAE. You can also download Goonj application for Live Streaming.
Cricket fans can also view the match online on the PSL-T20 Official website. For the live score, updates, and analysis, you can follow dailypakistan.com.pk.
Shout out for #KarachiKings Fans!
Our #InternationalPlayers @joed1986 @CAIngram41 @ravibopara, @54simmo, @tmills15 and @David_Wiese are all set to Come and Play in #Pakistan for @thePSLt20 Season III
Kudos to @Salman_ARY #Dedhanadhan #HBLPSL3 pic.twitter.com/Dj7DVXmWfC— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) March 17, 2018
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time meetings: Islamabad United W3, Karachi Kings W5
Karachi Kings Fans, are you ready for Qualifier-1?#IUvKK Sunday at 8:30 pm…#DeDhanaDhan #KarachiKings #HBLPSL3 #Qualifier1 pic.twitter.com/Uk2BMq8KfX
— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) March 17, 2018
We are all set for the first Play-off, Kings are taking on United for a spot in the final of #HBLPSL 2018. Misbah-ul-Haq is not playing due to injury, JP Duminy is leading Islamabad United this evening. #DilSeJaanLagaDe #IUvKK pic.twitter.com/x0IkmQ6bKG
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018
Match Prediction
Karachi 60%
Islamabad 40%
Weather Report
Mostly sunny. No chances of rain.
