PSL 2 - Match 1 : Islamabad United trump Peshawar Zalmi in tournament opener

[Abdullah719]

Islamabad United Team
Sharjeel Khan, Shane Watson, Dwayne Smith, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Brad Haddin, Sam Billings, Imran Khalid, Amad Butt, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Irfan.

Peshawar Zalmi Team
Mohammad Hafeez, Dawid Malan, Kamran Akmal, Eoin Morgan, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Darren Sammy*, Chris Jordan, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan.

Misbah won the toss and didn't hesitate to field first. However, there was an extended delay due to some remnants of the opening ceremony having to be removed. Once the match was underway, Irfan got Hafeez on the first ball as the opener edged one to slip straight away. However, Malan and Kamran counter-attacked with the latter specially going after the bowlers with aplomb. He brought up his fifty off 29 balls with Malan providing support from the other end. The latter finally fell for 43 after a 120-run partnership in just 11.1 overs but the innings slowed down a bit after that. The likes of Morgan failed and then Kamran fell as well, for a 48-ball 88 while Sammy, Afridi and co. failed to provide the lower order impetus. However, the tail managed to snatch 20 off Watson's last over despite his four-wicket haul as they ended on 190.

Smith started off well with a few boundaries but Hasan quickly got rid of the dangerous Sharjeel. However, Haddin continued where he left off in last year's PSL final as the two batsmen put on a big partnership. There was a short rain delay which saw the overs reduced, with the target 173 off 18 overs. With the required rate rising, Haddin batted more aggressively and brought up a 30-ball fifty. Smith found progress a bit tougher at the other end but Haddin went along merrily until he fell for 73 off 39 balls. Smith got to a fifty of his own off 44 balls. 26 were needed off the last two overs and it looked like there would be a tight finish but Junaid Khan bowled a no-ball that was hit for six with a subsequent six on the free hit as well as Watson killed Zalmi's hopes. Smith was dismissed but Watson finished the chase in style as Islamabad won by 7 wickets.

Next match: Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators

 

[Abdul]

There were five or six captains in Peshawar side, yet Peshawar lost to "friends XI".

Feeling so wonderful right now.

Also happy that Junaid got thrashed.

 

[Darkrai]

Great match. Junaid's over was the game changer. Great start by United.

 

[Hasan123]

"Friends XI" shutting the enemies up.

 

[itsme]

Junaid over wahab lmao well deserved

 

[The_KING]

Junaid is rubbish. Nice to see underrated Irfan with good figures. Come on ISL. Win PSL again.

 

[Abdul]

Junaid is rubbish. Nice to see underrated Irfan with good figures. Come on ISL. Win PSL again.

That wouldn't go down well with some people.

 

[The_KING]

That wouldn't go down well with some people.

Lol not bothered.

 

[khurram39]

A great opening, a good game of cricket. PSL is a hit.

 

[khurram39]

PSL ab so k dikha. hahahahaaaa

 

[Major]

Khocha 11 got destroyed by friends 11

 

[Major]

Junaid over wahab lmao well deserved

Wouldnt had made a difference. Even wahab could be rusty with the wet ball

 

[s.h.a.k]

Wouldnt had made a difference. Even wahab could be rusty with the wet ball

Didn't seem wet when Hasan Ali and Jordan were bowling.

Junaid is a poor bowler. He has lost the zip he had before his injuries. He might bowl a few good overs at times but fact is even Sami at 35 is better then him and can name around 5-8 pacers in Pakistan that ate better then him. People still living on his performances before his injury.

 

[Major]

Didn't seem wet when Hasan Ali and Jordan were bowling.

Junaid is a poor bowler. He has lost the zip he had before his injuries. He might bowl a few good overs at times but fact is even Sami at 35 is better then him and can name around 5-8 pacers in Pakistan that ate better then him. People still living on his performances before his injury.

it was wet bro. Thats what dew does, you just gotta know how to handle it.

Its a joke that Junaid is a senior bowler towards hassan ali and yet the former doesn't know how to handle a wet ball.

 

[the Great Khan]

lol islamabad showing you kiddies how its done. What a team..and sharjeel didnt even fire lol!! the team is well elad and they gel really well. I liked the look of Amaad Butt by the way..how old is he?