DUBAI: Opener Sharjeel Khan scored a blistering 117 to lift Islamabad United to 176-3 against Peshawar Zalmi at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
As Shahid Afridi came in to bowl the 16th over and pitched it short, Sharjeel smacked it straight down the ground, clearing the long-off, to register himself as the first batsman to score a hundred in PSL.
He hit 12 fours and eight sixes in his 62-ball knock.
United, after being sent in to bat, established a 108-run stand for the first wicket in 13.1 overs.
Zalmi pace spearhead Shaun Tait, by dismissing a struggling Dwayne Smith (19 off 37) and Brad Haddin (zero) on consecutive deliveries, tried to bring his team back into the contest but was left looking for support from other teammates.
The Hyderabad-born Sharjeel was later supported by Khalid Latif, who came in to bat at number four, and scored a crucial 28 off 21 balls.
Sharjeel and Latif established an important 63-run partnership for the third wicket. Sharjeel, in an attempt to get the strike back, ran himself out in the final over.
Winner of today’s game will play Quetta Gladiators in PSL final on February 23.
Teams
Islamabad United: Sharjeel Khan, Dwayne Smith, Khalid Latif, Asif Ali, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Andre Russell, Imran Khalid, Samuel Badree, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Sami.
Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Brad Hodge, Shahid Yousuf, Dawid Malan, Shahid Afridi (captain), Darren Sammy, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Asghar, Shaun Tait and Hasan Ali.
He should be include in National team.
Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Brad Hodge, Shahid Yousuf, Dawid Malan, Shahid Afridi (captain), Darren Sammy, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Asghar, Shaun Tait and Hasan Ali.
OUTCLASS TEAM