Shadab Khan delivers an all-round masterclass as Islamabad United crush Karachi Kings by six wickets in PSL 2025. Full match report, highlights, and stats.
Islamabad United Maintain Unbeaten Streak with Commanding Win Over Karachi Kings in PSL 2025
Islamabad United continued their flawless run in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) with a convincing six-wicket victory over Karachi Kings, led by a stellar all-round performance from captain Shadab Khan. Breaking the recent trend of teams winning while batting first, United opted to chase and executed their plan to perfection.
Match Summary:
- Karachi Kings: 128/7 (20 overs)
- Seifert 30, Abbas Afridi 24*, Shadab 2/17
- Islamabad United: 129/4 (17 overs)
- Shadab 47 (40), Azam 31*, Hasan Ali 2/28
- Result: Islamabad United won by 6 wickets
Shadab Khan Leads from the Front
Islamabad skipper Shadab Khan was the undisputed star of the night. First, he turned the screws with the ball, returning figures of 2 for 17 in his four overs, throttling Karachi’s middle order. Then, he anchored the chase with a calm, composed 47 off 40 balls, guiding his side home with 18 deliveries to spare.
United’s Bowlers Set the Tone Early
After winning the toss, Islamabad United defied the recent chasing woes and elected to field first. Naseem Shah struck early, removing David Warner with a cleverly disguised slower ball, while Jason Holder continued his strong tournament, dismantling James Vince’s off stump with a perfectly seamed delivery.
Karachi struggled to build momentum in the powerplay, crawling to 29 runs in the first five overs. Spin twins Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim further applied pressure, sharing three wickets and conceding just 34 runs across their combined eight overs.
Only a late surge from Abbas Afridi, who smashed an unbeaten 24 off 9 balls—including two towering sixes off Naseem—helped the Kings cross the 120 mark.
Confident Chase from Islamabad
Despite the low target, Islamabad United batted with intent and intelligence. Sahibzada Farhan continued his excellent form, blasting a quickfire 30 off 18 balls, laying the foundation for a straightforward chase. Though Hasan Ali briefly rattled United with two quick wickets—including Farhan and Colin Munro—the pair of Shadab Khan and Azam Khan (31*) steadied the innings.
Their 65-run stand in 52 balls extinguished any hope Karachi had, as the chase was navigated smoothly. While Shadab fell with the scores level, his knock had already sealed the deal.
Key Takeaways:
- Shadab Khan’s all-round brilliance: 2/17 & 47 (40)
- Islamabad United break the batting-first winning trend
- Four wins in four matches for United
- Karachi Kings fail to capitalize on late-innings momentum
Conclusion:
With this win, Islamabad United not only reinforced their dominance in the PSL 2025 but also showcased their tactical flexibility and depth in both departments. Shadab Khan’s all-round display has further solidified his status as one of the most valuable players in the league. As for Karachi Kings, they’ll need to regroup quickly to stay in playoff contention.