Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi: PSL eliminator – as it happened
All the updates from Islamabad United’s five-wicket comeback win over Peshawar Zalmi that takes them into the PSL 2024 final.
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us on Saturday, March 16. These were the updates as Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by five wickets in the second eliminator to enter the Pakistan Super League 2024 final:
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us on Saturday, March 16. These were the updates as Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by five wickets in the second eliminator to enter the Pakistan Super League 2024 final:
- Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by five wickets to win second eliminator in the Pakistan Super League 2024.
- Shadab Khan’s Islamabad United will face Mohammed Rizwan’s Multan Sultans in Monday’s final at National Stadium, Karachi.
- Imad Wasim (59 not out) and Haider Ali (52 not out) led a stunning comeback for Islamabad with a 98-run partnership, after they were 91-5 in pursuit of 186 runs.
- Peshawar Zalmi’s Saim Ayub top-scored in the match with 73 and took two wickets, but it wasn’t enough to see them through to the final.
Goodbye for now!
Peshawar Zalmi began strongly with a 72-run opening stand between Babar and Ayub. Haris joined Ayub and built on that platform as at one point the side looked good to reach a total of 200-plus.
However, Islamabad United took wickets at key junctures at the back-end of the innings to reign them in to a still challenging score of 185 for 5.
Islamabad United’s reply began rather inauspiciously after losing three wickets in the batting powerplay.
They were then further reduced to 91 for 5 after 11 overs, almost sealing Islamabad United’s place in the final.
But that is where the match took a sharp turn as Imad and Haider put on a fantastic 98-run stand to pull off the unlikeliest of victories.
As a result, Islamabad United now meet Multan Sultans on Monday to contest for the PSL 2024 title.
We hope you enjoyed our coverage of today’s thriller, and till the next time, this is Rohan Sharma signing off on behalf of Al Jazeera.
Team Sherus complete the most dramatic comeback! 🦁🔴
An unbeaten 9️⃣8️⃣-run partnership between Imad and Haider helps Islamabad United set up the final clash with Multan Sultans 🙌#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/9M4QMLCfPe
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 16, 2024
‘Doesn’t matter what situation we are in, we have the best team’
Islamabad United captain Shadab provided his views at the post-match presentation: “We didn’t play the perfect game, but we are still in the finals. Credit goes to all the players and management. The belief was there. Doesn’t matter what situation we are in, that is why we have the best team.”
“He [Hunain] was a under a bit of pressure after dropping the catch. I didn’t want to expose him as a bowler because we have seven other options, so we were able to cover for him.
“I told the side to take it deep as we know how good our players are. [I] told them to just believe in yourself. In these matches, it comes down to your attitude. You have to stay calm in these situations.
“Haider has done so much hard work. I saw his potential from before. Before the PSL, when reporters asked who would be my match winner, I said Haider. I know he was in good touch after seeing how he performed in the practice matches. Everyone criticised him for not performing in previous years. Because he is a match-winner, you have to give him an atmosphere for which he can be comfortable in.”
Imad is the Man of the Match
Imad Wasim, for his unbeaten 59 off 40 balls, is adjudged Man of the Match. He shared his thoughts at the post-match presentation: “I thought today’s wicket was better than before. My plan was to bowl on the surface and not give pace. The quicker you bowl the better it comes on for the batter.”
“We thought it was a 190-200 run-wicket. We thought we did well [to hold them to 185]. Last four, five overs we bowled really well.”
“The wicket was so good. You just had to stay in and play ball by ball. You try not to overhit or think ahead of yourself. Haider played exceptionally. If Haider takes a chance then at least one set batsman could stay in till the end. Most credit goes to Haider for the way he played.”
“The momentum is on our side [for the final]. Multan is a very good team as they are a fourth-time finalist. It is a final and anything can happen. It is not over as we have one more game to go.”
Haider plays a blinder
BIG MATCH PLAYER 💥
Insane striking from Haider Ali 😱#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/m8H3OQ4nRv
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 16, 2024
Babar rues poor bowling at the end
Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar shares his thoughts after the match: “To be honest, in the first 10 overs we were in a good position, but after that, we bowled badly. We were thinking we would win the match. Credit to Imad and Haider for the way they played.”
“I think we didn’t execute our plans. If you don’t follow the plan then you see the result. First 10 overs we had, but then the next 10 we had ordinary bowling, and as you can see Islamabad won.”
Imad leads the way
Imad Wasim hits a fighting 50*! A crucial innings when it matters most. 👏
Let’s applaud his resilience and determination. Here’s to hoping he carries us across the line. 🤲#PZvIU #HBLPSL9 pic.twitter.com/9CdGvllmge
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) March 16, 2024
Imad seals five-wicket victory for Islamabad United!
With a sumptuous drive through the covers, Imad seals a famous victory for Islamabad United.
Peshawar Zalmi look absolutely stricken out there.
This was certainly a match for the ages, with Imad and Haider successfully taking their side home.
Babar turns to Wood for a miracle
Wood, into his final over now, is looked upon to pull off a miracle.
But Haider is having the night of his life as he gets right behind a length delivery on the pads, sending it high over the deep midwicket boundary for six.
With that shot, he also brings up his fifty off 28 balls.
It is just a mere formality now as the equation is knocked down to four needed off nine deliveries.
18 overs. Islamabad United 174-5
Imad scythes away a wide delivery through backward point to bring up a well deserved fifty off 38 balls.
Peshawar Zalmi have completely lost the plot in these last three overs, with this over possibly providing the turning point.
Islamabad United now need 12 off 12 to seal a place in the PSL 2024 final.
Haider sends another one out of the ground!
After the third ball goes down the leg side for a wide, Haider delivers once more for his side.
He gets one in the arc, and demolishes the ball high over deep midwicket for another half-dozen.
This is some comeback from Islamabad United!
Haider slams huge six!
Jamal bowls the next ball in the slot, and Haider obliges with a huge six over deep midwicket.
This has been a horror start for the seamer, and Babar is looking absolutely disconsolate out there.
Imad smacks boundary first ball!
Jamal is brought back on and is dismissed by Imad with a mighty heave through cow corner to find the boundary.
The calmness of Imad and aggression of Haider – splendid partnership for Islamabad United 🤝🔴#HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/en0pMMp1Zi
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 16, 2024
17 overs. Islamabad United 151-5
Haider slaps another boundary through backward point off the fourth ball.
An overthrow follows which affords an extra valuable run to Islamabad United.
Babar is visibly frustrated as he feels the match is slowly falling out of his grasp.
Wood finishes with a nasty bouncer that clatters into Haider’s helmet as he looked to hook him away through fine leg.
Concussion protocols are soon underway as a result.
Thirty-five now needed off 18.
Imad turning it on
Babar turns to his chief weapon, Wood, to try and make the breakthrough, as he has done in the tournament before.
But Imad comes out on top as he backs away to a length delivery outside off to carve away a boundary through deep extra cover.
He tries to find another with a lofted shot through third man, but finds the boundary rider.
The partnership also goes past 50 runs, off just 33 balls.
16 overs. Islamabad United 140-5
Haider is unable to make anything of the free-hit as he once again targets the midwicket/cow corner region, but doesn’t quite time the stroke.
The batsmen end up securing a pair of runs.
The over ends with Islamabad United needing 46 off 24.
We’re in for an exciting finish here at National Stadium!
Shahzad no-ball results in six!
Shahzad errs with a high full-toss which Haider is able to get away in the nick of time.
There is some interest by the boundary rider at cow corner, who does get a hand on it, but the ball sails over.
The bad news continues for Peshawar Zalmi as replays show that Shahzad had overstepped, so not only do they get another ball, but a free-hit as well.
Shahzad back on
Shahzad is brought back on by Babar with his side under some pressure.
Haider goes for the big heave over midwicket on the third ball, but misses.
Every dot delivery will ramp up the pressure from here on.
15 overs. Islamabad United 129-5
As predicted, Haider gets a ball in the slot that he successfully slams over the cow corner boundary for six.
They finish it off with a single and this match may very well go down to the wire.
Islamabad United now need 57 off 30.
Mehran into his final over
Mehran is now into his final over of his spell.
The batsmen continue to rotate the strike smartly, but will be itching for a boundary before the over is out.
14 overs. Islamabad United 118-5
Despite giving up the first-ball boundary, the batsmen are only able to pick up another five runs off the over.
The equation is now 68 required off 36 deliveries.
Tough situation at 118/5 after 14 overs, needing 68 off 36 balls.
With Haider Ali and Imad Wasim battling it out, let's believe! ð€²#PZvIU #HBLPSL9 pic.twitter.com/8So8jzJ35X
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) March 16, 2024
Imad greets Yaqoob with boundary
The spinner is brought on to replace Mehran.
He is guilty of giving width and Imad is able to drive through extra cover to register four more runs.
That takes care of the boundary requirement for the over.
13 overs. Islamabad United 109-5
Imad cleverly waits on a shortish length going across him.
He plays it fine through the vacant third man region to pick up four runs.
The over ends with Islamabad United needing 77 off 42.
Haider creams four through backward point!
Jamal is back into the attack.
He is greeted with a sublime drive through backward point by Haider for a boundary.
With that shot, Islamabad cross the 100-run mark.
12 overs. Islamabad United 99-5
The batsmen are only able to pick up another two runs off the final three deliveries of the over.
The equation is now a stiff 87 runs off 48 balls.
Mehran continues
Mehran keeps the batsmen to a pair of singles before delivering a slightly wide delivery.
Imad throws his hands at it, getting a fortuitous edge which screams away to the third man boundary.