Gurbaz, Hasan cruise United to lopsided victory over Zalmi
Cricket
Babar Azam's blistering knock in vain
KARACHI (Web Desk) – Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 31-ball 62 and Hasan Ali’s fiery spell cruised Islamabad United to comfortable six-wicket victory against Peshawar Zalmi in the 12th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Karachi on Thursday.
ISLAMABAD UNITED'S INNINGS
Chasing a target of 157, United’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz spearheaded his side, scoring blistering 31-ball 62, smashing seven fours and four sixes. After the early departure of Colin Munro (9), Gurbaz immediately went after the Zalmi’s bowlers.
Gurbaz went on to form a brilliant partnership with South African Raasie van der Dussen. Dussen scored 42 off 29, studding six fours.
Asif Ali and Azam Khan remained unbeaten, scoring (29) and 9 unbeaten, helped the United sweep past the Zalmi.
For the Zalmi, Arshad Iqbal (1-38), James Neesham (1-21) and Usman Qadir (1-50) took a scalp each.
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) February 23, 2023
PESHAWAR ZALMI'S INNINGS
After the Zalmi sent into bat, Babar Azam’s unconquered 57-ball 74 powered Peshawar Zalmi to 156-8 in the marquee tournament. Both openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris kept the United bowlers guessing with their crafty batting. In the first six overs, 69 runs were plundered. Across 42 balls, Babar and Haris scored 76 runs.
But from the seventh over, the United bowlers started to stung the toes of Zalmi’s batters. Skipper Shadab took a better of Mohammad Haris, who played flamboyant innings, scoring 21-ball 40, studding four boundaries and a six.
The wickets continued to hurt the Zalmi batters, but Babar Azam continued to offer significant resistance by playing a captain’s knock, clobbering seven fours and one towering six.
With the exception of Babar and Haris, only Dasun Shanaka entered in double figures, scoring 10-ball 11.
While, the rest of the batters, Saim Ayub (3), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (1), Rovmen Powell (0), James Neesham (6), Wahab Riaz (8) and Usman Qadir (7) failed to score big for their team.
Arshad Iqbal remained unbeaten on 2, along with his skipper.
United bowlers were spearheaded by Hasan Ali (3-35), who scooped up three wickets.
Rumman Raees (1-30), Faheem Ashraf (1-28), Shadab Khan (1-26) and Mubasir Khan (1-5) took a scalp each.
— Peshawar Zalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) February 23, 2023
TOSS
Islamabad United opted to field first against Peshawar Zalmi in the 12th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Karachi on Thursday.
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Haris (wk), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Rovman Powell, Dasun Shanaka, James Neesham, Wahab Riaz, Usman Qadir, Arshad Iqbal, Sufyan Muqeem
Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rassie van der Dussen, Shadab Khan (capt), Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Mubasir Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Tom Curran, Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees
— Peshawar Zalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) February 23, 2023
