KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi set a massive 222-run target for Islamabad United, powered by Babar Azam’s 57-ball ton, in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier at National Bank Stadium, Karachi, on Tuesday.
United captain Shadab Khan’s decision to bat first backfired as the table-toppers piled up 221/7 in their 20 overs, courtesy of Babar’s anchoring knock.
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The 2017 champions got off to a flamboyant start to their innings as their opening pair of Babar and Mohammad Haris yielded 72 runs until the latter was dismissed by Shadab on the second delivery of the seventh over.
Haris made a quickfire 35 off just 16 deliveries with the help of five fours and two sixes.
Babar was then joined by in-form Kusal Mendis in the middle, and the duo ensured retaining the momentum in Zalmi’s favour by putting together 84 runs for the second wicket.
All-rounder Faheem Ashraf eventually broke the crucial partnership in the 15th over by dismissing Mendis, who made a 26-ball 41, comprising five fours and a six.
Following his dismissal, Zalmi lost two more wickets in the next over, bowled by Shadab, as Michael Bracewell (two) and Abdul Samad (zero) perished early, resulting in the former champions slipping to 164/4.
But Babar remained firm and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly to eventually bring up his fourth PSL century in the 18th over of the innings.
Babar Azam eventually fell victim to Salman Mirza in the penultimate over and walked back after top-scoring with 103 off 59 deliveries, studded with 12 fours and four sixes.
All-rounder Aaron Hardie then added valuable runs to Zalmi’s total at the backend with a blazing 20-run cameo, coming off just 10 deliveries until being outfoxed by a slower delivery from Richard Gleeson in the final over.
Gleeson struck again in the final over, removing youngster Farhan Yousaf (zero) on the penultimate delivery to pull things back for the United.
Skipper Shadab was the standout bowler for the United, taking three wickets for 42 runs in his four overs, followed by Gleeson with two, while Faheem and Salman bagged one apiece.
