Image Credit- PCB
In the Pakistan
Super League on Monday, Islamabad United defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 29 runs
after stifling Aamer Jamal’s lightning-fast half-century. Thanks primarily to
captain Shadab Khan’s 80 from 51 balls, Islamabad scored 196-4.
Then, on the power play, brothers Naseem Shah (1-26) and Hunain Shah (2-25) cut
through the Peshawar top order, bringing it down to 18-5. When Jamal was
clean-bowled by Shadab, who finished with 3-41, in the 18th over, they were
152-6. Jamal had spearheaded the recovery with a brilliant 87 off 49 balls.
Babar Azam, the captain, was unnecessarily run out of the first ball he faced,
which put Zalmi’s chase in early danger. Babar was unable to beat the direct
throw at the non-striker’s end from Alex Hales.
After an exciting
opening over in which Saim Ayub was caught in the slips, Mohammad Haris was
dismissed by Imad Wasim with a well-timed, accurate two-handed catch at short
fine leg, making the score 3-3. Hunain’s maiden of two wickets prolonged
Peshawar’s downfall.
In the middle overs, Jamal launched a counterattack, joining Paul Walter (33)
for a stand of 107 runs. Before misjudging Shadab’s googly in the same over,
Jamal hit six sixes and eight fours. He then struck a 102-meter six in the same
over he got dismissed.
Earlier, Ayub’s
first delivery, a carrom ball, had knocked back Hales’ middle stump after he
had been put in to bat in the cold. However, Shadab shared two noteworthy
half-centuries with Jordan Cox (26), and Agha Salman (37). Azam Khan’s flawless
29 off 14 innings gave the finish a boost.
United overtook Zalmi on net run-rate, moving up to third place in the six-team
standings.