Sami leads Islamabad to HBL PSL playoffs

By our correspondents

February 26, 2017

United seal extra-ordinary win as Quetta grab defeat from jaws of victory

DUBAI: Is it possible for a team, needing 17 to win off 19 balls and with nine wickets in hand, to crumble and suffer a loss in a Twenty20 game? It becomes all the more incredible since the team in question was Quetta Gladiators, placed at the top spot in the HBL Pakistan Super League formbook.

Quetta, who has already qualified for the PSL playoffs were cruising towards a very comfortable win against Islamabad United on the back of commanding fifties from Kevin Pietersen and Ahmed Shehzad here on Friday night at the Dubai International Stadium.

There was nothing threatening about the pitch or the Islamabad bowling attack, a fact that was underlined by a 133-run second-wicket stand between Pietersen (69) and Shehzad (59). The victory — 167 — looked very small during the KP-Shehzad partnership.

However, their wickets off successive deliveries changed the complexion of the game to the utter surprise of the spectators at the DIS.

The loss of KP and Shehzad was followed by the dismissal of skipper Sarfraz Ahmed (3) and in the end they were left with five to get from the last over bowled by Mohammad Sami. The pacer, who was one of the success stories for Islamabad in their title-winning campaign in the inaugural PSL, bowled a sensational over allowing Quetta to get just three. Islamabad won by 1 run to seal their place in the playoffs.

Sami was later named man of the match for his match-winning last over.

Quetta were the first team to qualify for the play-offs.

Shehzad’s second consecutive fifty contained five boundaries and a six while Pietersen was on fire racing to a 31-ball fifty with two huge sixes of Rumman Raees.

The former England star’s 43-ball innings was studded with six sizzling boundaries and three sixes.

Earlier, a superb fifty from left-hander Hussain Talat (56) helped Islamabad United post 165 for six.

Coming in at the fall of Dwayne Smith for a duck in the third ball of the match, Talat and Rafatullah Mohmand (17) shared in a 60-run stand to rebuild the innings. Talat cracked six boundaries and two sixes in his knock.

Cameos from skipper Misbah ul Haq (25), Brad Haddin (22) and some big hitting from Shane Watson (29) who belted two sixes and two post a challenging total. Zulfiqar Babar was the pick of the bowlers claiming two for 17.

Score Board

Quetta Gladiators won toss

Islamabad United

D R Smith c Nawaz b Zulfiqar 0

Rafatullah c Zulfiqar b Perera 17

Hussain Talat c Perera b Zulfiqar 56

*Misbah-ul-Haq c Nawaz b Anwar 25

†B J Haddin c Anwar b Hasan 22

S R Watson lbw b Anwar 29

Shadab Khan not out 9

Extras (lb 2, w 5) 7

Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 165