DUBAI: Another aggressive batting display by Luke Ronchi made the 155 chase look easy for Islamabad United in the qualifier against Karachi Kings in Dubai on Sunday.

What could be easily described as ‘the best innings of the PSL’, the Kiwi batsman scored 94 runs off 39 balls, including 12 fours and five sixes on the strike rate of 241.02. The Duminy-led team completed their chase in 12.3 overs.

United secured the most convincing victory in the tournament’s history in terms of balls (45 balls remaining); United’s 103 off 8.1 overs was the fastest team 100 in PSL.

Karachi, however, are not eliminated. They’ll face the winners of the first Eliminator between Quetta and Peshawar.

Resilient fifties by Colin Ingram and Joe Denly lifted Karachi to 154-4 after Eoin Morgan opted to bat first. But the unstoppable Ronchi blasted the fastest half-century in PSL history (from just 19 balls) to make a mockery of Karachi bowling.

It appears that the lady luck was standing with the Kiwi opener as he was thrice dropped by the Kings’ players while he was on 56, 57 and 63.

1st inning

It was anything but an ideal start for Karachi; Mohammad Sami and Amad Butt gave Islamabad United early breakthroughs after Karachi came in to bat first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Sami removed Khurram Manzoor (6) with a blinder of a catch off his own delivery, and Babar Azam (0) off the last ball of the same over, leaving Karachi at 17-2 after 4 overs.

Youngster Amad Butt dismissed skipper Eoin Morgan for 21 off his very first ball, as Karachi stumbled to 46-3.

But an unbeaten 68 off 39 balls by Ingram neutralised Islamabad’s bowling, taking Karachi to a respectable total despite a wobbly start.

He was helped by Denly, who was out hit wicket after a 46-ball 51.

Mohammad Sami led the bowling attack with 2 wickets in return for 20 runs off his 4 overs. Faheem Ashraf and Amad Butt took one wicket each.

Islamabad United were without captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who is out of cricket action due to a hairline fracture in his wrist.

South Africa’s JP Duminy led the side in Misbah’s absence. Sahibzada Farhan is in for Misbah, Samit Patel for Steven Finn, Mohammad Sami for Zafar Gohar, and Luke Ronchi for Chadwick Walton.

Karachi Kings were unchanged. Shahid Afridi played despite an injury scare earlier when he was reported to be suffering from knee pain and swelling.

Islamabad United

Head coach: Dean Jones

Playing XI: JP Duminy (capt), Alex Hales, Hussain Talat, Luke Ronchi (wk), Asif Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Samit Patel, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Amad Butt, Mohammad Sami

Karachi Kings

Head coach: Mickey Arthur

Playing XI: Khurram Manzoor, Joe Denly, Babar Azam, Eoin Morgan (capt), Colin Ingram, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Irfan Jnr, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan, Tymal Mills

DUBAI: Karachi Kings won the toss and opted to bat in the qualifier against Islamabad United in the third edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium tonight.

The winner of tonight’s match will secure a place in the final of the tournament, to be held in Karachi on March 25. The losing team will play the winner of Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators eliminator game in Lahore, in one more shot at a berth in the final.

Islamabad United are without captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who is out of cricket action due to a hairline fracture in his wrist.

South Africa’s JP Duminy is leading the side in Misbah’s absence.

Afridi is playing today, despite an injury scare earlier when he was reported to be suffering from knee pain and swelling.

Islamabad United

Head coach: Dean Jones

Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq

Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Alex Hales, Sam Billings, Chadwick Walton, Luke Ronchi, Amad Butt, JP Duminy, Hussain Talat, Samit Patel, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Samuel Badree, Steven Finn, Mohammad Sami, Zafar Gohar, Mohammad Hasan, Rohail Nazir

Players to look out for:

Karachi Kings

Head coach: Mickey Arthur

Captain: Imad Wasim

Squad: Imad Wasim (c), Babar Azam, Joe Denly, Colin Ingram, Khurram Manzoor, Lendl Simmons, Saifullah Bangash, Eoin Morgan, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammed Taha, Tabish Khan, Ravi Bopara, Hasan Mohsin, Shahid Afridi, David Wiese, Usama Mir, Tymal Mills, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan Shinwari

Peshawar, currently languishing at fifth position on the points table, need to win to boost their rankings. Out of their six matches so far, they have won three and lost three.

Islamabad sit at third spot, with four wins and two losses to their name.

With uncertainty surrounding Darren Sammy’s injury, Peshawar have looked wobbly under Mohammad Hafeez’s captaincy. However, they may enjoy a psychological edge over Islamabad: the title defenders beat Islamabad by 34 runs during their clash earlier this season.

Peshawar Zalmi

Head coach: Mohammad Akram

Captain: Darren Sammy

Squad: Darren Sammy (c), Tamim Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Andre Fletcher, Riki Wessels, Hammad Azam, Haris Sohail, Dwayne Bravo, Khushdil Shah, Umaid Asif, Saad Nasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Shabbir Rahman, Liam Dawson, Sameen Gul, Hasan Ali, Chris Jordan, Mohammad Asghar, Wahab Riaz.

Islamabad United

Head coach: Dean Jones

Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq

Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Alex Hales, Sam Billings, Mohammad Hasan, Chadwick Walton, Rohail Nazir, Luke Ronchi, Amad Butt, JP Duminy, Hussain Talat, Samit Patel, Andre Russell, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Samuel Badree, Steven Finn, Mohammad Sami, Rumman Raees, Zafar Gohar

SHARJAH: Islamabad United take on Quetta Gladiators in the first match of the Sharjah leg of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) beginning from tonight.

Both the teams have won one match and lost one match so far. Islamabad United collapsed against Peshawar Zalmi by 34 runs but rallied to defeat Multan Sultans by 5 wickets in their next match.

Quetta Gladiators lost their first match to Karachi Kings by 19 runs but then proceeded to outclass Lahore Qalandars by 9 wickets to regain momentum.

Islamabad United

Head coach: Dean Jones

Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq/Rumman Raees

Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Alex Hales, Sam Billings, Mohammad Hasan, Chadwick Walton, Rohail Nazir, Luke Ronchi, Amad Butt, JP Duminy, Hussain Talat, Samit Patel, Andre Russell, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Samuel Badree, Steven Finn, Mohammad Sami, Rumman Raees, Zafar Gohar

Quetta Gladiators

Head coach: Moin Khan

Captain: Sarfraz Ahmed

Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Rilee Rossouw, Jason Roy, Kevin Pietersen, Rameez Raja, Asad Shafiq, Shane Watson, Umar Amin, Mohammad Nawaz, Mahmudullah, Jofra Archer, Saad Ali, Saud Shakeel, Rashid Khan, Anwar Ali, Hassan Khan Mohammad, Mir Hamza, Rahat Ali