PSL 2018, Qualifier Review: Ronchi batters Karachi; Islamabad United romp into the finals

After a one-sided encounter in Dubai between the Karachi Kings and Islamabad United, Islamabad prevailed and so did an interesting irony. Islamabad defeated Karachi to book a direct flight to Karachi, the city which is set to host the final of the PSL 2018. Interestingly, just around 48 hours ago, the Karachi side managed to defeat this same unit quite easily, but a certain Luke Ronchi came in their way today.

The Kings came out to bat first after winning the coin toss. Khurram Manzoor was dismissed early in the innings and almost immediately, Babar Azam was gone for a duck. They were in significant trouble and two experienced Englishmen Eoin Morgan and Joe Denly were in the middle trying to consolidate the innings.

Both players approached sensibly and didn’t take many risks. They set a decent platform and added 39 runs for the 3rd wicket. After Morgan’s dismissal, Joe Denly was accompanied by Colin Ingram, who came out in a very precarious situation and changed the whole course of the game. The South African batsman played one of the best innings of this PSL.

The left-handed batsman from Port Elizabeth has managed to perform well in the Big Bash and played a crucial role in the Adelaide Strikers’ triumphant season. He played some mind-boggling shots in this crunch situation and helped his side get beyond the 150 mark. Denly and Ingram both completed half-centuries and added 82 runs for the 4th wicket.

Thanks to Ingram’s 39-ball 68 which included just one four and 6 sixes, Karachi posted 154 runs batting first. Mohammad Sami was the pick of the bowlers from the United contingent, picking up 2 wickets and giving away just 20 runs in his 4 overs.

Ronchi wastes no time!

The run chase started with two boundaries off the first two balls, which embarked one of the finest power-hitting sessions of this season. Ronchi is best known for playing such kind of knocks and he played one in a big game at a crucial juncture. These are the kind of totals which get tricky at times but Ronchi’s flabbergasting rendition was too good for the total posted by Karachi.

Runs kept raining like floods with the bowlers showing no resistance. Not one of them managed to curb the run-flow and some missed chances haunted them big time. Khurram Manzoor dropped a sitter in the 6th over off Ronchi and the Kiwi cricketer got another life in the 8th over when Shahid Afridi grassed a relatively easy catch.

He had the fortune gods on his side, but that’s never enough to win you games. Ronchi kept playing shots and managed to hit boundaries at will. He added 91 runs in just 7 overs with Sahibzada Farhan, who scored an 18-ball 29. After Farhan’s dismissal, Ronchi added 39 runs with Alex Hales whilst Hales managed to score just 14 runs.

He was inching closer to a hundred and the required rate came down to less than 3 an over after 10 overs. Such was the level of hitting from Ronchi, which helped the United side finish the game inside 12.3 overs. Samit Patel hit three boundaries towards the end, which meant Ronchi finished with 94 off 39 balls, which included 12 fours and 5 sixes. Whilst the Kings will be heading to Lahore for the second eliminator, Islamabad will have some time to relax in Karachi.

Brief Scores

Karachi Kings: 154/4 in 20 overs (Joe Denly 51, Colin Ingram 68*; Mohammad Sami 2/20)

Islamabad United: 155/2 in 12.3 overs (Luke Ronchi 94*, Sahibzada Farhan 29)

Player of the match: Luke Ronchi