Twitter Reactions: Asif Ali's cameo steers Islamabad United to a grand victory over Kings

If the game last night was not enough, it was now time for another run-fest. The game between the Islamabad United and the Karachi Kings was one for the audience to rejoice. United won the toss and opted to bowl first in this encounter.

Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam walked out to open the innings for the Kings. The former number one ranked T20I batsman was overshadowed by his counterpart Sharjeel in what was an amazing display of batting. Things were not easy to begin with but Sharjeel hung in there and made the most of this opportunity.

He started very cautiously scoring only 7 runs off his first 18 deliveries. After looking out of touch for a while he decided to take the attack on his opponents. It worked in his favour and he ended his inning with a score of 105 off 59 balls. His last 98 runs came off only 41 balls. Babar Azam played second fiddle as he scored 62 runs off 54 balls.

Due to some fantastic batting, the Karachi side finished with a score of 196 runs. When so many runs are scored you know that the bowlers did not have a good day on the field. It was now the job of batsmen to cover for the bowlers and help their side win this game.

Sharjeel Khan’s ton goes in vain as Islamabad United win by 5 wickets

The Islamabad team did not get off to the ideal start as they lost two wickets within the first two overs. Philip Salt was dismissed without scoring and Shadab Khan received a golden duck. It seemed like the pressure of chasing 197 runs had got the better of them. However, Alex Hales cashed in on his BBL form as he scored a quick-fire 46 off 21 balls to help his side get back in the game.

The momentum was now with them and some good contributions from the lower order meant that they completed a five-wicket win with five balls to spare. Iftikhar Ahmed stayed not out on 49 while Asif Ali played a cameo of 21* in just nine balls to seal the game for his side.

Aamer Yamin had a forgettable night as he conceded 29 runs in the only over he bowled. The Islamabad side now has two wins in two games and their batting looks in really good form.

Here are the best tweets

Imad Wasim "Sharjeel Khan played brilliantly. I think he showed that he is back in form and very much up there with the best that Pakistan has and I hope he continues to perform like that" #PSL6 #KKvIU pic.twitter.com/H3T7NznQEr

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 24, 2021

Fantastic batsman and one of the world's best but 62 off 54 balls at a strike-rate of 114.81 is simply not good enough especially with so many wickets in hand #PSL6 #IUvKK

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 24, 2021

Ehamm ehamm @KarachiKingsARY 😜#KKvIU pic.twitter.com/FfPEQ6EcCA

— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) February 24, 2021

Asif Ali "Our team combination is such that our batting line-up never ends and we even have Hassan Ali at number 10. We are full of confidence and people believe that we are a strong team and we want to prove that" pic.twitter.com/XVwaXe1pwi

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 24, 2021

Sharjeel Khan = Rahul Tewatia? 👀🔥

— Haroon (@hazharoon) February 24, 2021

6 matches, 6 teams won the toss and choose to chase, won the match – Asif Ali the finisher for Islamabad United with unbeaten 21 runs from just 9 balls including 1 four and 2 sixes. #PSL2021

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 24, 2021

“Ji fitness ki wajah se kaafi din se burgers nahi khaaye thay. Aaj mera cheat day tha.” pic.twitter.com/wyEOu8zltd

— PSL Memes (@PSLMemesWalay) February 24, 2021

Really happy with how our middle order stepped up after the platform provided by Hales & Faheem. That partnership b/w Ifti & Hussain was very intelligent & then a brilliant finish by Asif. We are working hard on improving & aiming to get better. @isbunited #UnitedWeWin

— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) February 24, 2021

Babar Azam did not scored a boundary on the last 16 balls of his inns which is where Karachi Kings lost the momentum & scored below 200.

They were set up for 220-230 total had Babar accelerated as per situation at hand. These are things Babar needs to work on!#KKvIU #PSL2021

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) February 24, 2021

Win Toss, Win match so far at PSL6.

In the first 6 matches – the team who has won the toss has bowled first and gone on to win the match.#PSL6

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 24, 2021

This league is so 🔥🔥🔥🔥 cracker of a match – one after another! #HBLPSL6 #PSLRocks

— Ali Naqvi (@AliNaqvi808) February 24, 2021

David Miller showed it few days ago and Islamabad have shown it twice in this PSL that perseverance of wickets is over-rated in T20s. Teams don’t get all out often, their failure mostly is because they were 10-15 runs short. #PSL2021

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 24, 2021

Asif Ali "The coach kept saying to me that you can do this irrespective of how many balls you get to face. Even if 40 was needed off 10 balls when I had to bat, I had the belief that I could do it" #PSL6 #IUvKK pic.twitter.com/pJNqt5n7Wc

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 24, 2021

Alhamdulillah 🤲🏻 @IsbUnited https://t.co/0ETQ39WLR4

— Iftikhar Ahmad (@IftiAhmed221) February 24, 2021

Rang Jeet ka Laaaaal hay 😍♥️@IsbUnited @thePSLt20 #Sheru 🦁 #UnitedWeWin #IslamabadUnited

— Fawad Ahmed (@bachaji23) February 24, 2021

#KKvsIU Once again a reminder & a confirmation that wkts in hand do not necessarily guarantee you a win. Strike rate does!
Hales with a 46/21 balls (SR 219) at the top & Asif Ali 21*/9 balls (SR 233) at the end nailed it!
KK were 176/1 & ended at 196/3 & still lost.

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) February 24, 2021