PSL 2023: Peshawar Zalmi send Islamabad United out of PSL
Peshawar Zalmi knocked out Islamabad United during the first eliminator of the eighth season of Pakistan Super League (PSL) and live to fight another day.
Zalmi set United a target of 184 runs in the first eliminator played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Now they will take over. Lahore Qalandars And will fight for a place in the final. The second eliminator will be played tomorrow at the same venue.
During the run chase, Azmatullah Umarzai provided Zalmi with an early wicket as Rahmanullah Garbaz was sent back to the dugout after scoring 10 runs.
However, Alex Hales and Sohaib Maqsood carried the attack with some clean hitting. The duo added 115 runs in the second wicket partnership and put their team in the driving seat.
The century stand was eventually broken by Aamir Jamal who clean bowled Sahib Maqsood but before that the right-hander had scored 60 off 48 balls.
After Maqsood’s departure, Zalmi did not look back and took control of the match with some smart bowling and regular wickets.
Azam Khan (2) also went back to the dugout without a significant contribution. He was sent packing by Salman Irshad after being beaten for speeding.
Hales followed soon after as Jamal nailed a yorker to smash the English batsman’s stumps. The right-hander scored 57 runs off 37 balls with the help of nine fours.
Faheem Ashraf, who slipped in an attempt to return to the crease, was run out after a direct hit by Jamal.
Captain Shadab scored an unbeaten 26 off 12 balls but it was not enough to get his team over the line.
Irshad Zalmi was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 18-2 in four overs.
Earlier Zalmi were restricted to 183-8 in 20 overs after openers Babar Azam and Saeem Ayub got off to an explosive start with 60 runs in just 4.4 overs.
However, pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr gave United a much-needed breakthrough when Ayub, who scored 23 off 16 balls, mistimed a pull shot and was caught out by Faheem Ashraf at mid-on.
Babur He scored 64 runs in 39 balls with the help of 10 fours.
The Zalmi captain also became the fastest player to score 9000 runs in T20 cricket during his brilliant innings. Before today’s match, the Zalmi skipper needed 35 runs to achieve this milestone which he did easily with some brilliant shots.
Mohammad Haris also took the innings forward with a brilliant cameo of 34 off 17 balls in the middle overs. He hit three fours and two maximum sixes.
After a strong start, it looked as if Zalmi would make it 200-plus with ease. However, United staged a strong comeback in the death overs to ensure that was not the case, restricting Zalmi to 35 for four. Last five overs
The United skipper took two wickets, including the prized scalp of Azam, but conceded 40 runs in his four overs.
Playing XI
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Saeem Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Haseebullah Khan (wicket), Tom Koehler Cadmore, James Neesham, Aamir Jamal, Azmatullah Umarzai, Mujibur Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Salman Irshad
Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Rehmanullah Garbaz (w), Soheib Maqsood, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mubaser Khan, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Fazalul Haque Farooqui.