Umaid, Ibtisam guide Zalmi to win in HBL PSL

From our correspondent

DUBAI: One of the biggest rewards of Pakistan Super League (PSL) reaped by this country’s cricket is that it is fast becoming a platform where unheralded youngsters can literally come out of nowhere and become international stars.

From Hasan Ali to Shadab Khan and from Fakhar Zaman to Rumman Raees, the last two editions of the PSL produced new stars from Pakistan cricket.

On Saturday night, it put the spotlight on Ibtisam Sheikh, a 19-year-old leg-spinner from Hyderabad.

In a match that will be probably remembered for a match-winning four-wicket haul by debutant 33-year-old pacer Umaid Asif, Ibtisam made his presence felt with three wickets to help title holders Peshawar Zalmi bounce back from a shock defeat against Multan Sultans and hammer Islamabad United by 34 runs.

Ibtisam made a low-key debut on Thursday night against Sultans going wicketless but he was in top gear against United taking the wickets of Samit Patel, Shadab Khan and Andre Russel after Umaid ripped through Islamabad’s top-order.

When asked after the match by Ramiz Raja, what was the secret behind his success, the unassuming, bespectacled lad replied: “I just focus on my line and length.”

Meanwhile, Kamran Akmal (53), Tamim Iqbal (39), Mohammad Hafeez (30*) and Dwayne Smith (30) guided Peshawar Zalmi to 176-6 before Umaid (4-23) and Ibtisam (3-20) rocked Islamabad. In fact Islamabad seemed on their way to a bigger defeat after crumbling to 73-8 in the 13th over but a spirited fifty by Faheem Ashraf took them to 142-9. Ashraf was unbeaten on 54 that came off just 30 balls.

United’s tactic of bowling first backfired.

Umaid carved open the heart of Islamabad’s batting and helped his team banish memories of their defeat to Multan Sultans. He picked up two wickets each in his first two overs to remove Chadwick Walton, Luke Ronchi, Asif Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed and reduce Islamabad 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.

Umaid could have had a five-for had Tamim Iqbal held on to Faheem Ashraf’s catch at third man off the last ball of his spell. Peshawar’s catching otherwise was impeccable, with Mohammad Hafeez and Ibtisam Sheikh showing remarkable composure in latching onto swirlers to dismiss Asif Ali and Shadab Khan respectively.

Score Board

Islamabad United won toss

Peshawar Zalmi

Tamim Iqbal c Shadab b Russell 39

†Kamran Akmal c Walton b Patel 53

D R Smith c & b Faheem 30

M Hafeez not out 30

*D J G Sammy b Faheem 9

Haris Sohail c Russell b Sami 4

Wahab Riaz b Rumman 7

Extras (lb 1, w 3) 4

Total (6 wickets; 20 Overs) 176

Did not bat: Umaid Asif, Ibtisam Sheikh, CJ Jordan, M Asghar

Fall: 1-69, 2-121, 3-125, 4-136, 5-164, 6-176

Bowling: Sami 3-0-20-1; Rumman 4-0-26-1; Russell 3-0-37-1; Faheem 4-0-37-2; Shadab 4-0-34-0; Patel 2-0-21-1

Islamabad United

†L Ronchi c Wahab b Umaid 3

C A K Walton c Wahab b Umaid 11

Asif Ali c Hafeez b Umaid 7

Iftikhar Ahmed c Tamim b Jordan 9

Hussain Talat c Kamran b Umaid 2

S R Patel c Sammy b Ibtisam 23

Shadab Khan c & b Ibtisam 2

A D Russell c Asghar b Ibtisam 11

Faheem Ashraf not out 54

M Sami c & b Wahab 6

*Rumman Raees not out 11

Extras (w 3) 3

Total (9 wickets; 20 Overs) 142

Fall: 1-15, 2-16, 3-22, 4-25, 5-46, 6-50, 7-63, 8-73, 9-111

Bowling: Asghar 3-0-26-0; Umaid 4-0-23-4; Wahab 4-0-21-1; Jordan 4-0-33-1; Ibtisam 4-0-20-3; Sammy 1-0-19-0

Result: Zalmi won by 34 runs

Man of the Match: Umaid Asif (Peshawar Zalmi)

Umpires: Rashid Riaz (Pakistan) and R Martinesz (Sri Lanka). TV Umpires: Ahmed Shahab (Pakistan). Match Referee: M Anees (Pakistan)