A wave of exceptionally hot weather has blasted parts of South and Southeast Asia this week
The two times winners Islamabad (titles in 2016 and 2018) face Peshawar Zalmi in the Eliminator 2 on Friday. Quetta Gladiators have already qualified for the 17 March final.
Alex Hales (42-ball 41) had set the platform for a successful chase but Karachi Kings pulled that back to bring the target to 47 in the last four overs.
Asif Ali (10-ball 24 not out with two sixes and a four) benefited from a drop catch off the first ball of Amir Yamin's penultimate over. Faheem Ashraf (eight-ball 17) helped Asif take 18 in the 18th over and 12 in the 19th to bring their team closer to the victory.
Yamin finished with 2-27.
Islamabad had lost Luke Ronchi early for just five before Cameroon Delport and Hales added 44 for the second-wicket. Delport wasted a good start as he lofted spinner Umer Khan straight into the hands of Babar Azam. He made 27-ball 38 with two sixes and four boundaries.
But Hussain hit a six off Umer's last ball as he and Hales added 51 for the fourth-wicket but both fell in the same style, caught in the deep with 33 needed in the last three overs.
Hales, playing his first match this year after joining from England's tour of the West Indies, was declared man-of-the-match.
"They were running away but our bowlers put them back and that became the turning point," said Sami. "Chase is always difficult but all the players showed character and contributed."
It was a roller coaster innings for Karachi Kings who won the toss and opted to bat -- only the second time in 32 matches in this HBL PSL that a team batted after winning the toss. It was also Karachi who batted against Multan Sultans in Dubai after winning the toss.
Colin Munro smashed three boundaries in Mohammad Sami's first over as Karachi reached 50 in just 3.2 overs. Munro was finally caught behind off Mohammad Musa for 32 which came off just ten balls, spiced with six boundaries and a six.
Liam Livingstone (25-ball 30 with a six and three fours) and Babar took the total to 78 in the Power-Play, equaling the highest in all HBL PSL Power-Plays of Multan against Lahore Qalandars in Dubai this year.
Brief Scores:
Islamabad United: 164-6 in 19.3 overs (Alex Hales 41, Cameron Delport 38, Umer Khan 2-16)
A wave of exceptionally hot weather has blasted parts of South and Southeast Asia this week
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