Sami fifer breaks Karachi Kings’ heart
dubai — For a country famed in producing an assembly line of fast bowlers, Mohammad Sami had burst onto the scene and had emerged as the shining star, ready to take over from the likes of the greats Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
But he couldn’t quite fill those boots to the extent people expected him to. There were spells, periods, phases and matches which he carried on his shoulders, but Sami couldn’t live up to that legacy. There were ample flashes of brilliance but every so often, he flattered to deceive. And after numerous comebacks, Sami finally found himself back in the wilderness last year.
At 34, it may be open to question whether the man from Karachi, Sind can figure in Pakistan’s scheme of things. But on the evidence of his showing against his home city Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), there might just about be a glimmer of hope. Dream figures any bowler would give a right arm for is what Sami conjured for his side Islamabad United at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. And Sami’s fifer effectively made it a one-horse race in the second play-off as Islamabad United won the no-contest by a canter. Sami had figures of 4-0-8-5 which dented an already frail and fragile Karachi Kings batting line-up. In the process, Sami also crossed 100 wickets in t20s.
Except for newly-installed captain Ravi Bopara’s dogged 37 from 36 balls with a boundary and a six, Karachi were anything but the Kings. Shoaib Malik, who had relinquished the captaincy, was out for nought. Their total on Nelson — 111 — summed up their abject showing in the inaugural edition of the PSL. Karachi Kings, at one point, looked like they might fold up below 100 but they just about scratched their way past that mark in the 19th over before eventually finishing up with that total. Sami’s teammate Andre Russell had provided the ideal back-up with two wickets.
The result was already a foregone conclusion and the only interest that remained was how quickly Islamabad United would knock off those runs. And they did so in 14.2 overs, with nine wickets in hand. After opener Sharjeel Khan had departed, caught by Iftikhar Ahmed off Sohail Khan, opener Dwayne Smith and Brad Haddin played good hands with half-centuries.
Haddin remained unbeaten on 52 from 29 balls with four boundaries and three sixes, while Smith brought up his unbeaten 50 off the final ball of the match.