SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (CMC) – Neither Chris Gayle nor Kieron Pollard fired, but Karachi Kings still managed to stay alive in the Pakistan Super League with a convincing 44-run victory over Dwayne Smith’s Islamabad United in the first qualifier here yesterday.Playing at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Kings were restricted to 126 all out off 19.4 overs, with Gayle getting 17 and Pollard scoring just five.
Opener Babar Azam and veteran Shoaib Malik both scored 25.
Left-seamer Rumman Raees claimed four for 25 while pacers Mohammed Sami (2-19) Shane Watson (2-29) were the other wicket-takers.
In reply, Islamabad slid to 82 all out off 15.2 overs, with Smith perishing for eight, leaving opening partner Asif Ali to carry the burden with a top score of 39 off 36 deliveries.
Ali was just one of two players in double figures. However, Islamabad crashed from 47 for two in the ninth over, losing their last eight wickets for 35 runs.
Pacer Mohammad Amir (3-7), left-arm spinner Imad Wasim (3-14) and leg-spinner Usama Mir (3-24) all finished with three wickets each.
Sent in earlier, Kings received an explosive start from Gayle who put on 42 for the first wicket with Babar.
The left-handed West Indies batsman stroked two fours and a six in his 15-ball stay at the crease before missing a heave at Raees and dragging on in the sixth over.
Pollard also fell to Raees, drilling a full delivery down to long off in the penultimate over.
Kings will now clash with Darren Sammy’s Peshawar Zalmi in today’s second qualifier, for a place in Sunday’s final.