KARACHI: Usman Khawaja led from the front as he hammered an unbeaten century while rookie left-armer Akif Javed bowled well as Islamabad United stretched their lead at the summit by defeating Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs in a high-scoring game of the HBL PSL-6 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
The Australian Test cricketer smacked 105 not out off 56 balls to guide United to a record total of 247-2.
Zalmi's response was spirited but they managed 232-6 thanks to Akif Javed’s fine figures of 3-43 in four overs under pressure. This was the sixth highest total by a team in any form of world’s T20 cricket while chasing a target.
In the last over, bowled by Akif, Zalmi needed 23 to win but the pacer gave away only seven runs to seal a fine win for his side.
Zalmi, who finished the league phase with ten points, now will have to wait and see the results of the remaining matches which will determine who they face in playoffs.
United moved to 14 points and are in the best position to finish as the league stage winners.
It was Islamabad United’s day in the absence of their regular skipper Shadab Khan, who opted to take rest. Usman Khawaja captained the side.
The Australian left-hander looked in elegant touch and hit some marvellous strokes towards all corners of the park. He hit 105 not out, the second century of the event so far after. The first was smashed by Sharjeel Khan of Karachi Kings in the Karachi leg.
Usman hammered 13 fours and three sixes in his 56-ball knock. His fity came off 35 balls and 100 off 53 deliveries.
He and fellow opener Colin Munro provided a superb start to United, scoring 98 off 59 balls. Munro was bowled by Shoaib Malik after hitting a quick-fire 28-ball 47. The New Zealander smashed five fours and two sixes.
But there was no respite for Zalmi bowlers as Asif Ali smacked a 14-ball 43, hitting five huge sixes and two fours, dominating a 47-run second-wicket partnership with Khawaja which came off 18 balls.
Then Khawaja and Brandon King plundered runs in a devastating manner as the duo shared a 102-run unbroken stand for the the third wicket which came off just 43 balls. Brandon, who made his PSL debut, smacked five fours and three sixes in his 22-ball 46 not out to take his side to 247-2, a record total of the PSL history.
The previous record was 238-3 which United posted against Lahore Qalandars on March 9, 2019, here at the National Stadium Karachi.
United scored 54-0 in the powerplay. They were 99-1 in 10 overs, 164-2 in 15 overs and the last five overs fetched 83 runs.
Sameen Gul (1-56 in 4) and Shaoib Malik (1-14 in 2) were the successful bowlers.
Umaid Asif (0-54 in 4), Abrar Ahmed (0-48 in 3), left-arm Afghan spinner Waqar Salamkhel (0-38 in 3) and Wahab Riaz (0-36 in 4) remained listless.
Young left-armer Akif Javed provided a solid start to United when he had Hazratullah Zazai (0) off the first ball of the innings for a golden duck when Hasan Ali grabbed a skier at mid-wicket position, running from mid-on. He then got rid of Imam-ul-Haq, who fell for just seven to leave Zalmi struggling at 35-2 in the fifth over.
Shoaib Malik then joined Kamran Akmal. Kamran managed a few superb shots and went on to complete his fifty off 30 balls before being dismissed by Hussain Talat after making a 32-ball 53, featuring two sixes and seven fours. The Malik-Kamran third-wicket stand produced 53 off 27 balls.
Soon afterwards Akif Javed provided another breakthrough when he had Rovman Powell caught behind. Powell struck 11-ball 14 with two fours and Zalmi were 128-4 in the 13th over.
Sherfane Rutherford then took the centrestage, hammering eight-ball 29 before Hasan Ali removed him when he edged a fuller delivery towards keeper Ikhlaq.
Rutherford hit four sixes in left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar’s one over which yielded 30 runs. Zalmi were 174-5 in 15 overs.
Hussain Talat then broke the back of Zalmi when he bowled Shoaib Malik who blasted a 36-ball 68, hammering three sixes and six fours.
Wahab Riaz (28 off 15) and Umaid Asif (20 off 9) then made a bold effort but failed to take their team home.
Akif was ably backed by Hussain Talat with 2-37 in four overs.
Khawaja was adjudged the man of the match.
