Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal played a starring role to help Islamabad United edge Karachi Kings by two runs in a thrilling Pakistan Super League match yesterday.
Ajmal picked up a wicket with his first ball and added two more scalps in his last over to restrict Karachi Kings to 130 for nine. Earlier, Islamabad had posted 132 for 8.
Karachi needed 16 off the last over bowled by Shane Watson, but despite a six by Ravi Bopara and a four by Mohamed Amir, they were left stranded agonisingly close to the target.
The victory came as a relief to Islamabad who had lost their first two matches,  against Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.
Chasing 133 for victory, Karachi were hit hard by the early loss of their openers, as Lendl Simmons and James Vince departed within a short span of just four overs.
Imad Wasim, who was promoted to number three in the batting order, provided rhythm to the Karachi innings with three consecutive fours against Saeed Ajmal but could not stay for long and Karachi kept losing wickets after his departure.
Saeed Ajmal was the main force behind Islamabad’s victory and made the difference when he took two wickets in three balls in the 15th over.
The off-spinner removed Kings’ danger-man Shakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper Saifullah Bangash.
Karachi needed 46 off 30 balls with only three wickets in hand as their only hope Ravi Bopara lifted them with an unbeaten 32 in 19 balls but failed to help Karachi cross the winning line.
Earlier, Islamabad lost three wickets in four balls and could have gone on to score even less if it was not for Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan’s 45-run partnership and a Mohamed Sami cameo of 20 off 9 balls towards the end of the innings.
In the second match of the day,  Kevin Pietersen stroked 35 off 29 balls as Quetta Gladiators beat Peshawar Zalmi by seven wickets with just one ball to spare.
Chasing 136 for victory, Quetta  were given a decent foundation by Luke Wright and Ahmed Shehzad who put on 35 runs for the first wicket.
However, both the openers were back in quick succession after scoring 16 each, paving the way for Pietersen and captain Sarfraz Ahmed to steady the innings.
Sarfraz made 21 before he was dismissed by Shahid Afridi leading to a collapse of sorts, but Anwar Ali belted a six off the penultimate over from Shaun Tait to help the Gladiatiors within seven runs of victory with one over remaining.
They inched closer when Elton Chigumbura hit a four off Wahab Riaz’s second ball, a no ball. He took a single off the fourth ball bringing  Anwar Ali on strike.
With Quetta needing one run off the last two balls, Wahab bowled into Ali’s pads, and the ball streaked across the boundary for four legbyes much to Peshawar’s disappointment.
Earlier, Darren Sammy top-scored with 48 for Peshawar off 31 balls with four sixes as theyposted 135 for 7 .
Left-arm spinner Mohamed Nawaz was the pick of the Quetta bowlers with figures of 3 for 29 in four overs and was declared man of the match.