United hold nerve against Zalmi in high-scoring game

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad United held their nerve in a record-breaking game against Peshawar Zalmi to defeat the Wahab Riaz-led side by 16 runs in match number 26 of the Pakistan Super League’s sixth edition at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night.

The Zalmi were chasing a 248-run target set by United in a high-scoring game. Peshawar lost Hazratullah Zazai and Imamul Haq early in their chase.

Kamran Akmal hit 53 off 31 balls to keep Zalmi in the game but the run-rate pressure cost him his wicket.

In the 12th over, Akif Javed dismissed Rovman Powell to take his third wicket of the match and put Peshawar four down.

Shoaib Malik completed his half-century in the next over off 26 balls. In the same over, Sherfane Rutherford hit four consecutive sixes off Zafar Gohar to take Peshawar past 150.

In the 17th over, Talat dismissed Malik to tilt the game in Islamabad’s favour. Usman Khawaja then gave the 18th over to Zafar Gohar, and Wahab Riaz and Umaid Asif took him to the cleaners.

In his over, Peshawar Zalmi also went past 200 runs. Gohar’s over gave away 19 runs and put Peshawar 38 runs short of the target.

Earlier, Usman Khawaja’s century helped United post 247 runs, making it the highest total in PSL’s history.