Minhas, Shadab power Islamabad United; Azam Khan stars as Karachi Kings win thriller in PSL doubleheader

A high-scoring doubleheader in the HBL PSL delivered contrasting chases as Islamabad United cruised to a dominant win in the day game, while Karachi Kings survived a late scare to maintain their unbeaten run in the evening clash at Gaddafi Stadium.

United cruise as Minhas, Shadab dismantle Gladiators

Islamabad United produced one of the most clinical chases of the season, chasing down 184 with ease to defeat Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets.

Score Summary:

• Islamabad United – 189/2 (18.4 overs)

• Quetta Gladiators – 183/5 (20 overs)

• Result: Islamabad United won by 8 wickets

A match-defining unbeaten partnership of 128 runs off 68 balls between Sameer Minhas (82 off 45)* and captain Shadab Khan (69 off 36)* turned the game decisively in United’s favour.

Earlier, Quetta Gladiators posted a competitive 183 for 5, powered by a fluent 66 off 36 balls* from Hasan Nawaz, with Saud Shakeel contributing 42. Shadab Khan was the standout performer with the ball as well, finishing with 3 for 23.

Islamabad’s chase, however, wasn’t always smooth. They slipped to 86 for 2 in 11 overs, with Abrar Ahmed (2-29) removing both Devon Conway and Andries Gous to keep Gladiators in the contest. At that stage, the required rate had climbed close to 11 per over.

The turning point came in the 12th over when Tom Curran was taken apart for 22 runs, shifting momentum firmly towards United. From there, Minhas and Shadab showed composure and controlled aggression, punishing anything loose and rotating strike efficiently.

A dropped catch of Shadab early in his innings proved costly, as the pair accelerated seamlessly to seal the chase. Minhas fittingly finished the game with a six, capping off a commanding performance.

Azam Khan blitz keeps Karachi Kings unbeaten

In the evening encounter, Karachi Kings edged past Rawalpindiz in a high-scoring thriller, chasing down 198 with five wickets in hand and four balls to spare.

Score Summary:

• Karachi Kings – 199/5 (19.2 overs)

• Rawalpindiz – 197/6 (20 overs)

• Result: Karachi Kings won by 5 wickets

The chase was anchored by a destructive 74 off 34 balls from Azam Khan, who dominated the latter stages with sheer power-hitting. His innings included a remarkable 60 runs in boundaries and came despite multiple dropped chances.

Karachi also benefited from a steady 50 off 36 balls by captain David Warner, who held the innings together before Azam’s late assault took over.

Earlier, Rawalpindiz posted 197 for 6, built around a 120-run fourth-wicket partnership between Daryl Mitchell (65) and Sam Billings (58). Despite their efforts, Karachi’s bowlers pulled things back at the death.

Hasan Ali (3-24) was instrumental, delivering crucial breakthroughs in the final overs, including the wickets of Billings and Cole McConchie, conceding just 13 runs across the 18th and 20th overs combined.

The chase appeared to be heading for a tense finish with 43 needed off 22 balls, but Azam Khan swung the momentum dramatically. He smashed 31 runs in just seven balls, including multiple sixes off McConchie, effectively sealing the contest before falling in the penultimate over.

Points Table Impact

Karachi Kings continued their perfect start to the season, registering their third consecutive win to reclaim the top spot on the table. Meanwhile, Rawalpindiz slipped to their second straight defeat.

Islamabad United’s emphatic win also boosts their campaign, showcasing their batting depth and all-round strength, led by a captain’s performance from Shadab Khan and a breakout knock from young Sameer Minhas.

The doubleheader once again highlighted the batting-friendly conditions of the tournament, but also underlined how decisive partnerships and death bowling continue to separate winning sides from the rest in this year’s HBL PSL.