In a thrilling encounter at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, Karachi Whites secured a 26-run victory over Islamabad under the DLS method. The match, which was part of the ongoing domestic T20 tournament, was interrupted by rain in the 14th over, forcing officials to call it off before completion. At the time of the interruption, Islamabad was struggling at 73/5 while chasing a target of 160.
Karachi Whites Set a Competitive Target
Winning the toss, Karachi Whites opted to bat first and posted a respectable total of 159/6 in the allotted 20 overs. Their innings was anchored by a brilliant knock from Saud Shakeel, who smashed 76 runs, while Khurram Manzoor contributed 29.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Karachi Whites managed to maintain a steady scoring rate, thanks to the resilience shown by their middle order.
From Islamabad’s bowling attack, Musa Khan and Naseerullah were the standout performers, each grabbing two wickets, preventing Karachi Whites from crossing the 160-run mark.
Islamabad’s Struggle in the Chase
Chasing 160 runs, Islamabad’s batting lineup faltered under pressure, losing early wickets. By the time rain interrupted play in the 14th over, Islamabad had only managed 73 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, putting them well behind the DLS par score.
Among the Islamabad batters, Ali Imran (26) and Hammad Siddique (25) were the only players who showed some resistance, but their efforts weren’t enough to keep their team ahead in the DLS calculations.
For Karachi Whites, Muhammad Umar was the pick of the bowlers, taking two crucial wickets, restricting Islamabad from gaining momentum.
Rain and DLS Method Seal Karachi Whites’ Victory
With Islamabad struggling at 73/5, heavy rain forced an early halt to the match, and officials decided to apply the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. As per the revised calculations, Karachi Whites were declared winners by 26 runs, adding another victory to their campaign.
Key Performances of the Match
Saud Shakeel – 76 runs (Karachi Whites)
Khurram Manzoor – 29 runs (Karachi Whites)
Musa Khan & Naseerullah – 2 wickets each (Islamabad)
Ali Imran – 26 runs (Islamabad)
Hammad Siddique – 25 runs (Islamabad)
Muhammad Umar – 2 wickets (Karachi Whites)
Match Summary
- Karachi Whites: 159/6 (20 overs)
- Saud Shakeel 76, Khurram Manzoor 29
- Musa Khan 2/22, Naseerullah 2/30
- Islamabad: 73/5 (13.4 overs) (Match stopped due to rain)
- Ali Imran 26, Hammad Siddique 25
- Muhammad Umar 2/18
- Result: Karachi Whites won by 26 runs (DLS method)
The victory has given Karachi Whites a strong boost in the tournament standings, while Islamabad will need to recover quickly from this setback. Saud Shakeel’s heroics with the bat and a disciplined bowling performance ensured Karachi Whites’ dominance before rain played its part.
As the tournament progresses, both teams will be looking to improve their performances in upcoming matches. Karachi Whites will aim to maintain their winning momentum, while Islamabad must regroup and work on their batting depth to stay competitive.
