Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by five wickets in the second eliminator of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 on Saturday thanks to a storming batting from Haider Ali and Imad Wasim to qualify for the final where they will face them on Monday. It will be from Multan Sultans.
In the match played in Karachi today, Zalmi scored 185 runs for the loss of five wickets with the help of Saim’s excellent 73 runs while batting first.
Saim along with captain Babar Azam provided the offensive opening. Both the batsmen added 72 runs. After scoring 25 runs, Babar was caught out by Naseem Shah in the eighth over.
Saim scored 59 runs along with Mohammad Haris for the second wicket. Both brought the score to 131 runs and put the team in a good position.
Saim, who got out in the 15th over, played an aggressive innings of 73 runs off 44 balls. He hit four sixes and six fours.
In the very next over, Haris also became a target of Naseem. He scored 40 runs off 25 balls.
In the final overs, Tom Koehler Cadmore (18 off nine balls) and Aamir Jamal (17 off nine balls) scored short but quick runs, which allowed Zalmi to reach 185 runs in the allotted 20 overs.
Muhammad Haris of Peshawar Zalmi in action against Islamabad United in the second eliminator of PSL 9 in Karachi March 16, 2024 (AFP)
Islamabad’s most successful bowler was Naseem, who took three wickets for 30 runs. Apart from them, Obaid Makvoy and Shadab Khan dismissed one player each.
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Today, Saim’s performance was not limited to batting. He took two wickets in the opening overs to put Islamabad United on the backfoot.
Saim walked Alex Hales for a run in the first over of Islamabad’s innings, then bowled Agha Salman in the third over.
Islamabad’s top four batsmen returned to the pavilion for a mere 50. Martin Guptill scored 34 runs and captain Shadab was dismissed for zero.
Azam Khan and Imad Wasim put on 41 runs at a good run-rate for the fifth wicket to take the score to 91 in the 11th over, when Azam (22 runs) was bowled.
On this occasion Haider Ali came and along with Imad turned the dice of the match. Both of them settled down and hit Zalmi’s bowlers with good shots all around the field.
Haider scored 52 runs off 29 balls, while Imad scored 59 runs off 40 balls and achieved the target of 186 runs in one over.
Haider hit five sixes and two fours in his beautiful innings. Peshawar’s Saim took two wickets while Lokwood, Mehran Mumtaz and Khurram Shehzad took one wicket each.
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