Daily Times

DUBAI: Wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal produced a real masterclass and Umaid Asif’s dream spell helped Peshawar Zalmi thrash Islamabad United by 34 runs in the fourth match of the Pakistan Super League at Dubai International Stadium here on Saturday. After being put into bat first, Zalmi posted 176 for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Kamran finished the innings with the top score of 53 off 32 with the help of seven fours and three sixes. For United, pacer Faheem Ashraf claimed two, whereas Mohammad Sami, Rumman Raees, Andre Russell and Samit Patel claimed a wicket each. In reply, United, who were playing without regular captain Misbahul Haq, could only manage to score 142 for the loss of nine wickets. All-rounder Ashraf finished the innings with the top score of 54 not out off just 30 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. For Zalmi, pacer Asif was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed four wickets and just gave away 23 runs. Asif picked up two wickets each in his first two overs to remove Chadwick Walton, Luke Ronchi, Asif Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed and reduce United to 25 for 4 in four overs. Their innings descended into a permanent freefall as wickets at regular intervals saw them finish 34 runs short. Ibtisam Sheikh showing remarkable composure in latching onto swirlers to dismiss Asif Ali and Shadab Khan respectively. Ibtisam, the 19-year-old bespectacled legspinner, produced a polished performance to return figures of 3 for 20.

Brief scores: Peshawar Zalmi 176 for 6 (Kamran Akmal 53, Tamim Iqbal 39, Mohammad Hafeez 30 not out, Dwayne Smith 30, Faheem Ashraf 2-37) beat Islamabad United 142 for 9 (Faheem Ashraf 54 not out, Umaid Asif 4-23, Ibtisam Sheikh 3-20) by 34 runs.

Published in Daily Times, February 25^th 2018.