Islamabad United defeated Karachi Kings by six wickets in the 19th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) being played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Friday.
Chasing a target of 202, Azam was unbeaten on 72 off 41 balls as United cruised home in 19.2 overs.
After losing Colin Munro, who scored 11 off five balls, in the first over, Russi van der Dusen and Alex Hales added 50 off 30 balls for the second wicket to keep United on track in the run chase.
However, Hales and Dawson fell in quick succession after scoring 34 and 22 respectively, as United slumped to 69-3 in 7.2 overs.
At this stage, Azam Khan and Faheem Ashraf put on a magnificent century partnership of 124 runs in 69 balls to keep United in check in the run chase.
Asif Ali hit a six and a four to end the run chase in the last over of the innings.
Earlier, Karachi Kings gave United a tough target of 202 runs.
The Kings captain took the ball to all parts of the ground and remained unbeaten on 92 off 54 balls.
After electing to bat first, Kings scored 61 runs in the powerplay but lost three wickets in the process.
Sharjeel Khan (8), who returned to the side, was the first player to be dismissed after being clean out by Roman Raees.
Tayyab Tahir was the second Karachi batsman to retire after a brief cameo of 19 off eight balls. Tom Curran was the successful bowler on this occasion.
Adam Rossington was dismissed after he mishandled a slower ball from Hasan Ali. He scored 20 runs in 16 balls.
Veteran batsman Shoaib Malik was sent packing by Ashraf when a ball went between his bat and pad while trying to play a drive.
At this stage, captain Wasim took over the innings and added 99 runs off 56 balls with Irfan Khan for the fifth wicket.
The partnership was broken after a brilliant relay catch near the boundary line, when Hasan Ali dropped over the ropes and went to his left to slide the ball out of hand to Reese van der Dusen coming from long-off.
Brilliant fielding led to the departure of Irfan who scored 30 off 20 balls.
Tom Curran took two wickets for United but conceded 43 runs in his four overs.
The line-ups
Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Rasi van der Dusen, Shadab Khan (captain), Azam Khan (wicket), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Tom Curran, Hasan Ali, Mubaser Khan, Roman Raees.
Karachi Kings: Matthew Wade, Adam Rosington (wicket), Sharjeel Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Shoaib Malik, Irfan Khan, Imad Wasim (captain), Aamir Yameen, Mohammad Amir, Andrew Tye, Tabriz Shamsi.
