Daily Times

SHARJAH: Veteran Ian Bell scored a patient half century and pacemen Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Musa bowled with firepower as title holders Islamabad United had the better of Peshawar Zalmi by 12 runs in their Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Sharjah Stadium here on Friday evening. A jam-packed holiday crowd had their money’s as they got the Caribbean flair from Kieron Pollard. But Islamabad skipper Sami had the last laugh with a hat-trick — the fourth in all PSL editions — to end with figures of 3-22, dismissing Wahab Riaz, Umaid Asif and Hasan Ali.

Mohammad Amir, Imran Tahir and Junaid Khan have also recorded hat-tricks in the past PSL matches. Peshawar, chasing 159-run target were propelled by a fiery 22-ball 51 by Pollard with five sixes and three boundaries but as the asking rate surged he fell in the 17th over and with it Peshawar’s hopes faded. Musa took 3-25. This was Peshawar’s sixth loss in nine matches against Islamabad in all PSL editions.

Sami said he knew it was important to get Pollard’s wicket. “Yes, we knew that Pollard has the power to hit hard so we knew that if he continued it would be difficult but once we got his wicket our grip was tightened,” said Sami. Peshawar Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy praised his team’s fight. “Obviously its disappointing to lose,” said Sammy. “But look at the boys they fought till the final over and in the end we were 12 runs short.”

Islamabad ended up on 158-9 in their 20 overs with Bell scoring a patient 46-ball 54 with six boundaries and 18-ball 29 by Cameroon Delport who hit two sixes and a boundary. The win gave Islamabad their second win in four matches. They are now third in points table which is topped by Quetta Gladiators who have six points from three wins in as many games. Peshawar are second with four points in four matches but with a better net run-rate than Islamabad. Lahore are fourth (two wins in four matches), Multan Sultans fifth (one win, three losses in four) and Karachi Kings sixth (one win, two losses in three matches).

Brief scores:

Islamabad United 158-9 in 20 overs (I. Bell 54, Sameen Gul 3-29) VS Peshawar Zalmi 146 all out in 19.4 overs (K. Pollard 51, Mohammad Sami 3-22, Mohammad Musa 3-25).

Published in Daily Times, February 24^th 2019.