1. After winning the toss, Islamabad United elected to chase, like every other side winning the toss this season has done. The first 6 overs went according to plan for Islamabad United, conceding just 33 runs in the first 6 overs. The lowest score by a side in the powerplay.
While Babar – 27 runs in 19 balls – was his usual free flowing self early in the innings, Sharjeel’s struggles early on was what kept Islamabad United in the game. Some disciplined bowling.
But that was the best it got for Islamabad United in the first innings.
2. The 4 overs post powerplay are usually overs where batting sides slow down, it’s inefficient yes. But with fields being spread around, the batsmen need to recalibrate.
That was not the case for Karachi Kings today as they scored 51 runs in the 4 overs post powerplay, with 25 runs coming of Shadab Khan’s one over in which Sharjeel Khan scored 4 maximums.
Sharjeel who earlier struggled in the powerplay, when he entered the 4 overs phase scoring 6 runs in 17 balls, at the end of the 10th over he was 46 runs in 30 balls. He added 40 runs in 13 balls in this phase and what looked like a really good start for Islamabad United in the powerplay unraveled in the next 4 overs.
3. Sharjeel Khan was struggling, no question about it. He was 11 not out having faced 20 balls unable to time the ball or get any sort of connection. Sharjeel’s innings was so bad that it looked like Babar Azam was scoring at a quick rare, he wasn’t. But in comparison to Sharjeel, it did.
That’s disappointing, but the thing about such innings is that you need just one bad ball to come your way and get the scoring rate going and that’s what happened.
Sharjeel Khan ended with a magnificent century, yes he had multiple chances come his way. But those are the risks you take when you are looking to hit every ball out of the park. Sharjeel scored 94 runs in the 39 balls after his 20th, scoring runs at a ridiculous 14.46 runs per over, to bring up a fine century which was the first in this PSL. This Sharjeel century was also the first century against Islamabad United.
4. With the required run rate 9.85 runs per over at the start of the chase, Islamabad United needed to break the back of the chase straight away. The powerplay with it’s field restrictions does allow teams to do just that.
Alex Hales took down Aamer Yamin for 29 runs in the 3rd over of the chase, which turned out to be the most expensive over in the history of PSL.
United continued this for the remainder of the powerplay, eventually scoring 77 runs in the first 6 overs of the chase. Bringing down the required run rate to 8.35 runs per over down from 9.85 runs per over at the start of the innings, which was still steep given that the side lost 3 wickets but it was a much more manageable chase for the chasing side.
5. With 4 wickets down at the end of the 7th over, Islamabad United had their required run rate in control but the loss of 4 wickets was still something which would have made the chase difficult.
So Islamabad United with the comfort of the required run rate under reasonable control, the side could look to take their time in the middle and conserve themselves for the death overs where Islamabad United still have enough batsmen if the required run rate climbs up a bit.
The middle overs saw Islamabad United score 72 runs in 9 overs at 8 runs per over, which meant that the required run rate being 9.6 runs per over — below the RRR at the start of the chase — but with ISLU knowing that they have 6 wickets in hand.
6. Given these steep chases, every player needs to come out with a role and look to play according to their defined role.
So when Shadab Khan got out, Faheem Ashraf’s point of entry was done to have a left handed batsman who can also play his attacking shots and match the scoring rate of Alex Hales.
These flexibility in batting roles ensured that Islamabad United still remained in the chase.
7. This was the 4th highest chase in PSL history, Islamabad United did not do well with the ball. But they ensured that they kept with their game plan of attacking through the innings and it paid off with a win and that too with everyone doing their bit.
8. With 21 runs needed in 14 balls. The game was in ISLU’s corner, but you have Mohd Amir to bowl the penultimate over of the innings. Things could still change.
Asif Ali came in scored a 6 off his first ball against Nabi, followed it up with a single and then sealed the game in the Amir over with some crisp boundaries. 9 balls, 21 runs. Game done and dusted.