Islamabad United thrash Peshawar Zalmi by six wickets

Islamabad United Thursday night thrashed Peshawar Zalmi by six wickets with 31 balls remaining in the 12th match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.

Chasing a target of 157 runs, United never looked in a point of bother thanks to a whirlwind innings from Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz who made an entertaining 31-ball 62 runs in an innings that included four sixes and seven boundaries.

United also piled up 80 runs for one wicket in the first powerplay, the most in the PSL. Opener Colin Munro (9 off 5 balls) was an early causality but next man Rassie van der Dussen replicated Gurbaz fireworks as well before being run out.

United reached their first 50 runs in just 25 balls and raced to the next 50 runs in just 22 balls thanks to Van der Dussen and Gurbaz.

Van der Dussen made 42 runs off 29 balls hitting six boundaries. Shadab Khan could make only three runs while Muhammad Asif (29 off 13 balls) and Azam Khan (9 off 6 balls) remained unbeaten.

Earlier, Islamabad United hit back strongly to put a brake on high-flying Peshawar Zalmi batters and restrict them to a below-par total of 156-8.

Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan won the toss and invited Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi to bat.

Zalmi were off to a flying start as Muhammad Haris and Babar Azam put the United bowlers to the sword. Zalmi reached 50 runs mark in just 26 deliveries with Haris scoring 27 and Babar contributing 24, and reached 69 runs in the first power play without loss.

United captain Shadab broke the 76-run opening partnership after taking a smart catch of Haris off his own bowling. Haris scored 40 runs off 21 balls hitting six boundaries and a six.

The next man in, Saim Ayub could not stay long as he was bowled in the very next over by Mubasir Khan. He scored three runs off three balls.

Babar continued to hold one end for Zalmi but the wickets continued to fall from the other end. Hasan Ali bowled a superb double-wicket 10th over removing Tom Kohler-Cadmore (1 off 4) and Rovman Powell (0-2) as Zalmi were reduced to 87-4 at the half way point.

Hasan also removed James Neesham (6 off 8 balls) in the 12th over. Zalmi reached 100 runs mark in 11.5 overs. However, they could add only 56 more runs in 49 balls remaining. Dasun Shanaka (11 off 10 balls), and Usman Qadir (7 off 4 balls) also failed to give Babar support.

Once looked primed for his maiden PSL century, Babar remained unbeaten on 75 off 58 balls hitting 7 fours and a six.

For United, Hsan took 3-35 while Rumman, SHadab, Mubasir and Faheem took one wicket each.