Reeza Hendricks played a crucial unbeaten innings of 51 runs to steer Karachi Kings to a competitive total of 150 for 6 against Islamabad United in the 25th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.
The Kings faced early setbacks when opener Saad Baig was dismissed for just 6 runs in the second over, putting immediate pressure on the batting side. However, the return of Jason Roy brought some momentum as he scored a quick 39 runs off 27 balls before being dismissed by United captain Shadab Khan.
Despite wickets falling at the other end, including Azam Khan’s 34 and a brief contribution from captain Moeen Ali, Hendricks remained the steady force in the middle. He reached his half-century in the final over, finishing unbeaten on 51 from 44 deliveries, ensuring the Kings crossed the 150-run mark.
Islamabad United’s bowling attack largely contained the home side’s batsmen. Richard Gleeson was the most effective bowler, taking 2 wickets for 22 runs in his four overs, including the important dismissal of Azam Khan just as he was looking to accelerate the innings. Captain Shadab Khan also took two wickets, while Faheem Ashraf and Muhammad Hasnain contributed one wicket each, restricting the Kings’ late surge.
In a significant development, the match remains finely poised as Islamabad United now require 151 runs to win, with a required run rate of 7.55 per over. The outcome of this contest promises to be an exciting finish.
