Charles cameo in vain as Islamabad seal playoff spot

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (CMC):

Johnson Charles starred with a cameo, but it was not enough to prevent league leaders Multan Sultans from suffering a three-wicket defeat to Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League here, yesterday.

The West Indies right-hander blasted an 18-ball 42, a knock which helped Sultans up to an imposing 228 for four off their 20 overs, Usman Khan carving out his second successive hundred with exactly 100 not out off 50 balls.

However, Islamabad then got a superb 40-ball 84 from opener Colin Munro and a well-crafted 54 from captain Shadab Khan, as they overhauled their target off the last ball of the innings.

They required 13 runs off the last over and seven runs from the last two balls, and Imad Wasim (30 not out) whacked 22-year-old seamer Abbas Afridi for a six-over long off and then a four down the ground, to complete the successful chase.

With the win, Islamabad ended their preliminary round campaign on 11 points, booking their spot in the play-offs.

Sultans remain top on 12 points with a game left to play.

Sent in at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Sultans were handed a solid start when Yasir Khan (33) and captain Mohammad Rizwan (20) put on 44 for the first wicket, before Usman and Charles added a further 86 for the third wicket.

Usman lashed 15 fours and three sixes while Charles punched three fours and three sixes before perishing in the 14th over, the last of two wickets for seamer Faheem Ashraf (2-32).

Usman then dominated the back end of the innings, putting on 54 for the fourth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed (13) and 30 in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership with Barbados-born England star Chris Jordan (15 not out).

In reply, Islamabad were in a deep hole at four for two in the second over before Munro, who struck nine fours and four sixes and Shadab, who belted half-dozen fours and a couple of sixes, posted a stunning 141 for the third wicket.

Even then, Islamabad again found themselves in trouble when both fell as three wickets went down for 12 runs, but Imad led the successful counter-attack in a 40-run, seventh wicket stand with Faheem (23).