DUBAI: Chris Gayle’s quick-fire innings of 44 runs helped Karachi Kings beat Islamabad United by six wickets in their crucial Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 encounter in Dubai and qualify for the tournament’s play-off stage, ARY News reported. 

Karachi Kings won the toss and chose to bowl first in the must win fixture. The match was reduced to 15 overs per side due to downpours which lashed Dubai all day.

Islamabad United scored 123/7 in their 15 overs with Dwayne Smith scoring 49 runs from 36 balls with the help of seven boundaries and a six whereas Brad Haddin scored 20 runs off 12 balls with a six to his name.

Ben Duckett and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq scored 16 and 12 runs respectively for the team.

Karachi Kings pacers Usman Shinwari, Mohammad Amir and Sohail Khan grabbed two wickets each in the match.

Karachi Kings, chasing 124 runs to win, reached the target in 14.5 overs and six wickets to spare thanks to Chris Gayle’s blistering knock of 44 runs runs from 17 balls which included two fours and five sixes.

Babar Azam made run-a-ball innings of 27 runs whereas Kieron Pollard contributed 20 runs with the blade.

Shadab Khan took three wickets for Islamabad United and Saeed Ajmal took one wicket.

Chris Gayle was named Player of the match for his performance with the bat.

Quetta Gladiators will take on Peshawar Zalmi in the first play-off game of the tournament whereas Islamabad United face Karachi Kings in the second play-off.

Karachi Kings XI: Babar Azam, Chris Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Shoaib Malik, Ravi Bopara, Kieron Pollard, Imad Wasim, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Amir, Usama Mir and Usman Shinwari.

Islamabad United XI: Dwayne Smith, Ben Duckett, Hussain Talat, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Brad Haddin, Shane Watson, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Sami, Rumman Raees and Saeed Ajmal.

Karachi Kings has won the toss in this rainy night in Dubai and has opted to bowl first. Gayle in for KK while Duckett & Ajmal for IU! pic.twitter.com/7PkwGesgMe

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2017

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LIVE UPDATES

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KARACHI KINGS: 127/4 (win by six wickets)

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#ChrisGayle bludgeons back-to-back sixes to make 44 off 17 balls

Follow LIVE updates: https://t.co/VNdT9Q8BjG #KKvsIU #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/IzfIufJDid

— ARY News (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) February 26, 2017

Over 15: Rumman Raees (0-2-2-2-4) (match over)

Kieron Pollard: 20 (13)

Ravi Bopara: 11 (10)

Over 14: Mohammad Sami (2-4-0-1-0-4)

Kieron Pollard: 10 (8)

Ravi Bopara: 11 (10)

Over 13: Rumman Raees (1-1-0-0-1wd-1-1)

Kieron Pollard: 3 (4)

Ravi Bopara: 7 (8)

Over 12: Mohammad Sami (1wd-1-1-1-0-4-1)

Kieron Pollard: 2 (2)

Ravi Bopara: 6 (4)

Over 11: Shadab Khan (0-0-2-0-W-W)

Kieron Pollard: 0 (0)

Babar Azam: 27 (27)

Shoaib Malik: 7 (12)

Over 10: Shane Watson (0-2-0-1-1-1)

Babar Azam: 27 (26)

Shoaib Malik: 5 (7)

Over 9: Shadab Khan (0-1-W-0-1-4)

Babar Azam: 26 (25)

Shoaib Malik: 1 (2)

Kumar Sangakkara: 10 (10)

Over 8: Saeed Ajmal (4-1-1-4-0-0)

Babar Azam: 21 (22)

Kumar Sangakkara: 10 (9)

Over 7: Shadab Khan (1-0-0-2wd-1-0-1)

Babar Azam: 20 (21)

Kumar Sangakkara: 1 (4)

Over 6: Saeed Ajmal (1-6-6-6-0-W)

Babar Azam: 18 (19)

Chris Gayle: 44 (17)

Over 5: Mohammad Irfan (0-6-6-0-2-2)

Babar Azam: 17 (18)

Chris Gayle: 26 (12)

Over 4: Rumman Raees (1-0-1-1-1-1)

Babar Azam: 17 (18)

Chris Gayle: 8 (6)

Over 3: Mohammad Irfan (0-0-1-1wd-1-0-0)

Babar Azam: 15 (15)

Chris Gayle: 5 (3)

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

Babar Azam: 14 (10)

Chris Gayle: 4 (2)

Over 1: Mohammad Irfan (0-4-0-1wd-4-1-4)

Babar Azam: 9 (5)

Chris Gayle: 4 (1)

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ISLAMABAD UNITED: 123/7

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Over 15: Mohammad Amir (1-2-6-W-2-W)

Mohammad Sami: 0 (0)

Misbah-ul-Haq: 12 (7)

Shadab Khan: 9 (4)

Over 14: Usman Shinwari (W-W-2NB-2-6-0-1)

Shadab Khan: 1 (1)

Misbah-ul-Haq: 9 (4)

Dwayne Smith: 49 (36)

Brad Haddin: 20 (12)

Over 13: Mohammad Amir (0-4-1-1-1-1)

Dwayne Smith: 49 (35)

Brad Haddin: 20 (11)

Over 12: Usman Shinwari (1-1-2-1-1-2)

Dwayne Smith: 43 (31)

Brad Haddin: 18 (9)

Over 11: Usama Mir (1wd-2-6-2-1-6-0)

Dwayne Smith: 42 (29)

Brad Haddin: 12 (5)

Over 10: Sohail Khan (0-0-W-1lb-1-4)

Dwayne Smith: 36 (27)

Brad Haddin: 1 (1)

Shane Watson: 2 (7)

Over 9: Usama Mir (1-0-1-1-0-1)

Dwayne Smith: 32 (25)

Shane Watson: 2 (4)

Over 8: Imad Wasim (0-1-2-1-4-W)

Dwayne Smith: 30 (23)

Hussain Talat: 11 (12)

Over 7: Usama Mir (1-1-2-0-1-1)

Dwayne Smith: 25 (19)

Hussain Talat: 8 (10)

Over 6: Imad Wasim (1-0-1-0-0-1)

Dwayne Smith: 23 (17)

Hussain Talat: 4 (6)

Over 5: Sohail Khan (4-4-W-1-1-1)

Dwayne Smith: 22 (15)

Hussain Talat: 2 (2)

Ben Duckett: 16 (13)

Over 4: Usman Shinwari (0-0-4-1-1-1)

Dwayne Smith: 21 (14)

Ben Duckett: 8 (10)

Over 3: Sohail Khan (0-1-0-4-2-0)

Dwayne Smith: 20 (13)

Ben Duckett: 2 (5)

Over 2: Mohammad Amir (4-0-1-0-0-1)

Dwayne Smith: 14 (9)

Ben Duckett: 1 (3)

Over 1: Imad Wasim (4-0-0-4-0-1)

Dwayne Smith: 9 (6)

Ben Duckett: 0 (0)

Its a 15 overs game and starts in 20 minutes! Islamabad United Vs Karachi Kings, a must win for the KK to remain in the contest. #HBLPSL

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2017

Rain has stopped, the covers are off, umpires are reviewing the pitch. #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa #IUvKK pic.twitter.com/kAUVQY3Tzu

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 26, 2017