RAWALPINDI: Peshawar Zalmi have set a 180-run target for Islamabad United after the latter asked the former to bat first during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
Pacer Hasan Ali and spinner Shadab Khan led the bowling charge for Islamabad United to restrict Peshawar Zalmi to 179/8 despite Mohammad Haris’ 79-run knock at the top in the 29th match of the PSL.
Mohammad Haris and Bhanuka Rajapaksa put on a superb 115-run partnership to put Peshawar Zalmi in command in the first half of the innings before Islamabad United came back strongly and unsettled the batting side.
Shadab Khan got rid of both Rajapaksa and Mohammad Haris before Hasan Ali took three quick wickets to reduce Peshawar Zalmi to 161/8 in 17 overs from a comfortable position of 116/1 in 10 overs.
Opting to field first, Islamabad United earned the breakthrough in the very first over through pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi who dismissed youngster Sam Ayub on a duck.
Haris, however, wrested the momentum back from United’s grip along with Rajapaksa as Zalmi raised 69 for the loss of one in the powerplay.
The right-hander took 26 balls to complete his fifty while Rajapaksa chipped in with a controlled knock of 25-ball 41 before Shadab sent him back in the hut.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who stood in as Zalmi captain in the absence of Babar Azam, could not create a major impact with an additional burden on his shoulder as he fell prey to Faheem Ashraf in the 12th over on a paltry 12 from 5 balls.
Shadab handed Peshawar Zalmi the most fatal blow in the next over when he perished strong-looking Haris with Hasan grabbing the catch at long-on
Haris’ dismissal triggered the panic button for Peshawar Zalmi, which saw the next four wickets falling quickly for the addition of 21 runs between the 14th and 17th over.
Hasan Ali opened his account with a big wicket of James Neesham (1) before dismissing Aamer Jamal (9) and Mujeeb ur Rehman (2) in the same over.
Amid Hasan’s phenomenal spell, Mohammad Wasim cleaned up Haseebullah Khan to register his name to the wickets column.
It must be noted that Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, United, and Zalmi have already qualified for the playoffs; however, the knockout fixtures will be confirmed after today’s matches.
The day’s second match will be played between Qalandars and Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Peshawar Zalmi Playing XI
Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (c), Haseebullah Khan (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, James Neesham, Aamer Jamal, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Khurram Shahzad, Salman Irshad, Sufiyan Muqeem
Islamabad United Playing XI
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Sohaib Maqsood, Shadab Khan (c), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hassan Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali, Fazalhaq Farooqi
