Karachi Kings elect to bowl first against Islamabad United

DUBAI: Luke Ronchi smashed a fiery half century to help Islamabad demolish Karachi Kings by eight wickets in the qualifier of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2018 in Dubai on Sunday to take the former champions into the final.

Unbeaten Ronchi finished with 39-ball 94 studded with five 6s and 12 boundaries as Islamabad romped home with 45 balls to spare to stun Karachi Kings whose 154-4 in 20 overs was made to look a mediocre total.

United gun down the target of 155 off 77 balls. Sensational striking by Luke Ronchi earned United a spot in the final in Karachi.
Good Luck to Karachi Kings for the play-off at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

Karachi Kings will now wait to see who wins the first eliminator between defending champions Peshawar and twice runners-up Quetta Gladiators in Lahore on Tuesday. Karachi Kings will face the winners of that match in Lahore on Wednesday.

Samit Patel made 14 not out which stopped Ronchi’s hundred by just six runs.

Karachi Kings will take on the winner of Eliminator 1 now.

Ronhci was ruthless from the start as Islamabad took 13 in first Mohammad Amir’s over before Usman Khan Shinwari in the second cost just four. But Ronchi demolished the attack with 16 in Tyml Mills’s third, 16 off Shahid Afridi in fourth and another big 20 off Shinwari’s over.

Ronchi raced to the fastest PSL fifty from just 19 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes. He bettered his own record of the fastest to 50 from 22 balls against Lahore Qalandars to add to his 23-ball 50 against Karachi Kings in the league phase.

Ronchi is Man of the Match as well as the new owner of Hanif Mohammad Cap.

Karachi Kings fielders were also sloppy in the field with Ronchi let off at 56 by Shinwari off his own bowling before Khurram Manzoor dropping an easy catch off Amir. Shahid Afridi also dropped a forceful return catch of Ronchi when he was 63. Tymal Mills also let off Sahibzada Farhan on one — capping a miserable day for the Karachi Kings.

When Mohammad Irfan came to bowl, Ronchi was equally brutal, smacking him for a hat trick of boundaries to bring the target within 30 runs.

Karachi Kings are taking on Islamabad United for a spot in the final of PSL 2018. Misbah-ul-Haq is not playing due to injury, JP Duminy is leading Islamabad United this evening.

Karachi Kings were slow at the start as they lost Khurram Manzoor (six) and Babar Azam (nought) in one Mohammad Sami over and 2-17 became 3-46 when Eoin Morgan was dismissed by Ammad Butt for 21.

Denly and Ingram steadied the innings with Ingram lucky to get a life on 18 when he was dropped by Hussain Talat. Ingram took full advantage of that life, smashing six 6s and a boundary to help Karachi Kings add 58 in the last five overs.

Denly was also productive, reaching his fifty off 45 deliveries before he stepped on to his stumps off Faheem Ashraf. Shahid Afidi looked in pain as he couldn’t run properly because of swelling on his knee.

Sami was the best Islamabad bowler with 2-20 in his four overs.

The tournament shifts to Lahore with the first eliminator on Tuesday, with defending champions Peshawar Zalmi taking on Quetta.

Big picture before the big match!#IUvKK #HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/fH5BNQyKI7

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

Islamabad United 155/2 (Overs 12.3)

OVER 13: Usman Khan (4-0-4-)

Luke Ronchi: 94 (39)

Samit Patel: 14 (7)

Samit Patel scores the match-winning four for Islamabad United!
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/JVkGP1QEPQ

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 12: Mohammad Amir (0-4-1-1-1-4)

Luke Ronchi: 94

Samit Patel: 6

OVER 11: Shahid Afridi (4-1-1-W-0-6)

Luke Ronchi: 89

Samit Patel: 0

~~Alex Hales: 14 (11)~~

OUT! 10.4 Usman Khan to Alex Hales
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/HzWypdHykE

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 10: Shahid Afridi (1-1-1-0-1-4)

Luke Ronchi: 82

Alex Hales: 9

OVER 9: Mohammad Irfan (4-4-4-1-4-1)

Luke Ronchi: 77

Alex Hales: 7

Three back to back fours by @ronchi04!
This innings is getting more and more entertaining! #SherKiDhaar all over Dubai tonight.
IU 177 for 1 after 9 overs#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #IUvKK

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 8: Shahid Afridi (1-1-1-1-1-2-1)

Luke Ronchi: 64

Alex Hales: 2

OVER 7: Tymal Mills (0-2-1-6-1-0-6-W)

Luke Ronchi: 59

~~Sahibzada Farhan: 29 (18)~~

OUT! 6.6 Tymal Mills to Sahibzada Farhan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/YWV410yShv

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

SIX! 6.5 Tymal Mills to Sahibzada Farhan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/7676jPECC7

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

SIX! 6.3 Tymal Mills to Sahibzada Farhan
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/kdmcnGiX25

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 6: Mohammad Amir (1-2-1-0-1-1)

Luke Ronchi: 59

Sahibzada Farhan: 15

OVER 5: Usman Khan (6-1-6-6-1-0)

Luke Ronchi: 57

Sahibzada Farhan: 11

Carnage at Dubai! Ronchi smashes 19 ball 50 as #SherKiDhaar pulverize Kings#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #IUvKK pic.twitter.com/a6EFxLgGYm

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

SIX! 4.4 Usman Khan to Luke Ronchi
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/xbjbV4azHq

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

50 comes up for Luke Ronchi!
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/9qoysWYzf1

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

50 comes up for Islamabad United!
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/2fheZKxQ6s

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 4: Shahid Afridi (1-4-6-4-0-0)

Luke Ronchi: 44

Sahibzada Farhan: 4

Sensational striking by @ronchi04 !
44 off 18 balls, his bat is roaring like #SherKiDhaar
IU 49/0 in 4 overs #HBLPSL #IUvKK #HBLPSL

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

SIX! 3.3 Shahid Afridi to Luke Ronchi
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/QX0leS2rvL

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 3: Tymal Mills (0-4-0-6-2-4)

Luke Ronchi: 30

Sahibzada Farhan: 3

SIX! 2.4 Tymal Mills to Luke Ronchi
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/gYlHQ2EVGS

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 2: Usman Khan (0-0-1-0-1-2)

Luke Ronchi: 14

Sahibzada Farhan: 3

OVER 1: Mohammad Amir (4-4-0-1-1-4)

Luke Ronchi: 13

Sahibzada Farhan: 0

@CAIngram41 … He remained calm, composed, confident yet aggressive throughout the innings … Immaculate batting by Ingram! #Qualifier #KKvIU #KarachiKings #HBLPSL3 @thePSLt20 pic.twitter.com/Gd9QQYZcwM

— Karachi Kings (@KarachiKingsARY) March 18, 2018

Karachi Kings 154/4 (Overs 20)

OVER 20: Faheem Ashraf (6-6-1-1-2-1)

Colin Ingram: 68

Shahid Afridi: 4

Karachi Kings have scored 154. Will Islamabad United chase it down?
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/GPm8NF1xoM

— 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! 19.1 Faheem Ashraf to Colin Ingram
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/SNRi3nfNhm

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 19: Mohammad Sami (1-0-1-1-1-0)

Colin Ingram: 52

Shahid Afridi: 3

When luck runs out!#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #IUvKK pic.twitter.com/QSyrSXcCya

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

Seasoned campaigner Mohammad Sami rises to the occasion with an impressive spell
4 overs
10 Dots
20 Runs
2 Wickets#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe #IUvKK pic.twitter.com/TsMCMezypH

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 18: Faheem Ashraf (1-1-6-W-1-4)

Colin Ingram: 50

Shahid Afridi: 1

~~Joe Denly: 51 (46)~~

Ingram hits it for four!
50 comes up for @CAIngram41 #HBLPSL #IUvKK pic.twitter.com/l5fuwhVOgL

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

50 comes up for Colin Ingram!
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/3GKhjGuDUe

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OUT! 17.4 Faheem Ashraf to Joe Denly
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/tcAjb1hgO7

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

50 comes up for Joe Denly!
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/v3lBhd215o

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 17: Mohammad Sami (1-1-2-1-1-1-1-1)

Joe Denly: 44

Colin Ingram: 45

OVER 16: Hussain Talat (1-6-1-1-1-6)

Joe Denly: 41

Colin Ingram: 41

SIX! 15.6 Hussain Talat to Colin Ingram
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/TAg3C7XYZx

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

100 comes up for Karachi Kings!
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/uBZkekQ1YB

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 15: Faheem Ashraf (1-2-1-4-1-6)

Joe Denly: 40

Colin Ingram: 28

SIX! 14.6 Faheem Ashraf to Colin Ingram
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/k7QtEM3zOf #IUvKK #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/UoBOfWm6Hv

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 14: Shadab Khan (1-1-0-1-2-1)

Joe Denly: 34

Colin Ingram: 19

Two missed chances in one over!
Shadab could have sent both Denly and Ingram back to dugout, would it be costly for United?#IUvKK #HBLPSL

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

Men in Sherwani!#HBLPSL #DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/3L73fjQWER

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 13: Hussain Talat (1-0-0-0-0-1)

Joe Denly: 30

Colin Ingram: 18

OVER 12: Shadab Khan (1-2-1-0-3-1)

Joe Denly: 29

Colin Ingram: 17

OVER 11: Amad Butt (6-1-4-1-1-0-)

Joe Denly: 25

Colin Ingram: 13

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

OVER 10: Shadab Khan (1-0-1-1-0-0)

Joe Denly: 20

Colin Ingram: 5

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

OVER 9: Amad Butt (W-2-0-0-1-0)

Joe Denly: 19

Colin Ingram: 3

~~Eoin Morgan: 21 (16)~~

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

OVER 8: Shadab Khan (1-4-1-1-0-1)

Joe Denly: 19

Eoin Morgan: 21

OVER 7: Samit Patel (1-4-1-1-1-1)

Joe Denly: 17

Eoin Morgan: 15

OVER 6: Faheem Ashraf (1-1-0-2-4-0)

Joe Denly: 14

Eoin Morgan: 9

OVER 5: Samit Patel (1-1-1-0-1-0)

Joe Denly: 13

Eoin Morgan: 2

OVER 4: Mohammad Sami (0-1-1-W-0-W)

Joe Denly: 10

~~Babar Azam: 0 (2)~~

~~Khurram Manzoor: 6 (12)~~

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

Magnificent start for United!
Mohammad Sami takes two in over
Khurram and Babar gone.#SherKiDhaar #IUvKK #HBLPSL

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2018

OVER 3: Samit Patel (0-0-4-0-0-4)

Khurram Manzoor: 5

Joe Denly: 10

OVER 2: Mohammad Sami (0-1-0-4-0-0)

Khurram Manzoor: 5

Joe Denly: 2

OVER 1: Samit Patel (1-1-0-0-0-0)

Khurram Manzoor: 1

Joe Denly: 1

Rampaging Ronchi demolishes Karachi to take Islamabad to final

Islamabad United 155/2 (Overs 12.3)

Karachi Kings 154/4 (Overs 20)