HBL PSL X: Islamabad United thrash Karachi Kings by 79 runs

Islamabad United closed out the league stage of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) X with a dominant 79-run victory over Karachi Kings, powered by explosive batting displays from Alex Hales and Sahibzada Farhan at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Put into bat in the 30th and final league fixture, United racked up a mammoth 251 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs—the second-highest team total in PSL history. Hales was the star of the show, hammering 88 off just 35 balls, including 6 fours and 8 sixes at a blistering strike rate of 251.42.

Farhan anchored the innings with a fluent 73 off 41 deliveries, adding 9 boundaries and 3 sixes before he was dismissed by Mir Hamza. Skipper Shadab Khan added fuel to the fire with a rapid 42 off 19 balls, while Haider Ali (19* off 9) and Ben Dwarshuis (10* off 4) provided a late flourish.

In reply, Karachi Kings faltered early and were eventually bundled out for 172 in 18.2 overs, falling well short of the 252-run target. Captain David Warner tried to mount a chase with a 28-ball 43, but wickets fell at regular intervals.

Shadab Khan shone with the ball as well, picking up 4 wickets for 45 runs in a match-winning all-round performance. Salman Irshad chipped in with 3 wickets, while Imad Wasim grabbed 2 wickets.

A late cameo from Abbas Afridi (34 off 13) added some respectability to the scoreline, but it was too little too late for the Kings.