HBL PSL 2018 – 4th Match: Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United

Dubai February 24: In his debut game for Peshawar Zalmi, fast bowler Umaid Asif wrecked Islamabad United’s top-order with a four wicket burst as the defending champions of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) recorded a convincing 34 run win in the fifth match of the 2018 edition.

Zalmi who lost their opening match of the tournament to Multan Sultans showed real resurgence to outplay the former champions.

The tall right-armer Umaid was well supported by young leg-spinner Ibtisam Sheikh who tore through the middle and lower order of the United outfit in their pursuit of 177 runs.

United were facing the possibility of serious damage to their net run rate as they crashed to 73 for eight in the 13th over of their innings.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf who was making his debut for United scored a brisk 54 to limit the damage as the Islamabad side finished their innings at 142 for nine in their allotted 20 overs.

Ibtisam took three for 20 while the Man-of-the-Match award winner Umaid claimed four wickets conceding only 23 runs in his four over spell.

Earlier captaining in place of the injured Misbahul Haq makeshift captain Rumman Raees won the toss and opted to field first.

Kamran Akmal top-scored with a whirlwind 53 that got Zalmi off to a flying 69 run start.

Akmal hit seven fours and three sixes in while Tamim Iqbal made a 39 run contribution.

Faheem took two wickets while Rumman, Mohammad Sami, Andre Russell and spinner Samit Patel took one wicket each.

Dwayne Smith and Mohammad Hafeez ensured that the moment isn’t lost in the middle and later stages of the innings with 30 runs each.

Zalmi ended their quota of overs with a commanding 176 for six run total.