Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi defeated Shadab Khan-led Islamabad United by 12 runs in the first eliminator of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
After their victory, Zalmi qualified for the second eliminator against Lahore Qalandars for a place in the final. The match will be played at the same venue tomorrow.
Earlier, United won the toss and asked Zalmi to bat, who set a target of 184 runs.
ZALMI FOR THE WIN 🙌#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #IUvPZ pic.twitter.com/vv3rOcDqPw
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 16, 2023
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.
Second appearance of the season and scores a fifty 💪
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 16, 2023
Man of the hour – @sohaibcricketer 😎#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #IUvPZ pic.twitter.com/Y6vGCa7mFF
Azam Khan (2) also went back to the dugout without a significant contribution after he was sent packing by Salman Irshad 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.
Babar looked brilliant and scored 64 runs off 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 easily achieved with some brilliant shots.
MVP of the innings – the Zalmi Kaptaan 👑 #HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #IUvPZ @babarazam258 pic.twitter.com/4A5WhQKqu0
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 16, 2023
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 like Zalmi would easily make it to the 200-plus mark. However, United mounted a strong comeback in the death overs to prevent that from happening, restricting Zalmi to 35 for four. In the 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 (capt), Saeem Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Haseebullah Khan (wicket), Tom Koehler Cadmore, James Neesham, Aamir Jamal, Azmatullah Umarzai, Mujeebur Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Salman Irshad.
Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Rehmanullah Garbaz (wicket), Sohaib Maqsood, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan (captain), Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mubaser Khan, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Fazlul Haq Farooqui.
