DUBAI: Spin wizard Saeed Ajmal was the man of the moment as Islamabad United secured their first win of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in a thrilling encounter over Karachi Kings on Sunday.

Karachi needed 16 runs to win in the last over and came within touching distance as Ravi Bopara hit smacked a six off United stand-in captain Shane Watson to bring the equation down to four of the last delivery.

But the Australian all-rounder held his nerve to fire in a yorker as United registered a two-run win.

This win came as a relief for Islamabad which lost its first two matches to Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.

In pursuit of 133, Karachi were hit hard by the early loss of their openers, as Lendl Simmons and James Vince departed within a 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 Mohammad Sami cameo of 20 off 9 balls towards the end of the innings.