Islamabad United won the first Eliminator of PSL 7 playoffs in a thrilling fashion knocking out 2017’s champion Peshawar Zalmi in another action-packed game of cricket at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Zalmi paid dearly for a missed stumping and a dropped chance against Alex Hales inside the first three overs in United’s 170-run chase. The returning Hales made full use of the opportunities smacking a brilliant 62 off 49 balls that included six fours and three sixes.
The English batter was finally undone by a sensational yorker by Salman Irshad who also removed Asif Ali for 7 with a beautifully disguised slow yorker. His departure left United needing 51 off the last 28 balls.
Azam Khan (28 off 22, one four, two sixes) and (player of the match) Faheem Ashraf (19 not out, two fours, one six, one for 15 in three overs with the ball) brought United to the brink of victory with some big hits which left United needing 10 off the final six balls bowled by Benny Howell.
Azam was dismissed off the first ball of the final over but Liam Dawson settled the game in United’s favor with a massive six over mid-wicket and a lap sweep off the following delivery for four as United got home with three balls to spare.
Salman finished with three wickets for 31 but Zalmi’s skipper Wahab Riaz had a forgettable night with figures of 4-0-52-0.
United after taking down Zalmi will face Lahore Qalandars in the HBL PSL 7 Eliminator 2 tonight with the winner qualifying for the tournament’s final against Multan Sultans on Sunday.
Batting first Zalmi’s seasoned batting pair of Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik hit 50s to help their side reach 169 for five. After the early loss of the big-hitters Mohammad Haris (12) and Yasir Khan (8), Kamran steadied the ship for Peshawar
The wicketkeeper-batter scored 58 off 39 balls (seven fours, two sixes). This was the first fifty of the season for the Zalmi veteran who has been one of the most prolific run-getters in HBL PSL history.
Kamran was dismissed by Islamabad’s skipper Shadab after a 40-run alliance with Malik. Kamran was replaced by Hussain Talat who joined Malik in a quickfire 56-run partnership off only 26 balls.
Hussain contributed 28 off 15 (five fours). Malik cut loose after the loss of Kamran and reached his third half-century of the season. The Zalmi batting linchpin was dismissed for 55 (43 balls, four fours, two sixes) on the penultimate ball of the innings.
During his innings Malik reached the 400-run mark in the ongoing season, his tally at the end of the innings read 401 runs at 44.55, strike-rate 137.32.
Hasan Ali who made a return to the United side after an injury lay-off took three wickets for 30.
