KARACHI: Islamabad United advanced to their third HBL Pakistan Super League final on Saturday thanks to brilliant counterpunching performances by Imad Wasim and Haider Ali against Peshawar Zalmi in the second eliminator here at the National Bank Stadium.
After Islamabad, who were chasing 186, had found themselves reeling at 91-5 with players like skipper Shadab Khan and power hitter Azam Khan back in the hut cheaply, both batters struck half-centuries.
After absorbing all the pressure for a while at the crease, Imad and Haider launched an offensive assault in the final five overs.
Haider virtually ended the match during that over, hitting pacers Aamer Jamal and Luke Wood for three massive sixes over the leg-side before Imad put the latter past backward point for the winning boundary.
Imad smashed nine boundaries in his 59 off 40, while Haider finished undefeated at 52 off 29 after hitting five sixes.
After spinner Saim Ayub claimed two early wickets and Mehran Mumtaz and Khurram Shehzad each contributed one, the two formed a 98-run partnership.
United placed Zalmi into bat, but Saim’s fireworks drove Zalmi. After entertaining the crowd with a variety of elegant strokes, including six fours and four sixes, the right-handed starter took up the role of anchor by scoring 73 off 44 balls.
Despite losing captain and opening partner Babar Azam on the other end, the youthful player did not give up as Shadab made an incredible catch to dismiss the former Pakistani captain for 25 off 22.
Seeing an opening, Mohammad Haris smashed a rapid forty off twenty-five balls, which included two sixes and three fours.
Zalmi’s intensity had decreased in the middle overs due to some disciplined bowling from United, but late cameos from Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Aamer helped the team to a dangerous score.
The best bowler was Naseem Shah, who returned 3-30. Imad did not take wickets with his left-arm spin, but he did stop Zalmi from reaching the magical 200 runs, conceding only 23 runs in his four overs with his cutters and pace-off deliveries.
Islamabad United triumphed by a margin of five wickets.
