Cricket Highlights, 13 Mar: PSL 2023 (Match 29) – Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi

Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi (Match 29) – Highlights

Peshawar Zalmi proceeded to an impressive 13-run win over Islamabad United in the 29th match of PSL 2023 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium courtesy of Mohammad Haris’ brilliancy. Along with this victory, they have confirmed the playoffs as the last team of the tournament.

After winning the toss, Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan decided to field first sending Peshawar Zalmi to bat. Peshawar Zalmi collected a fighting total of 179 runs after losing 8 wickets in the scheduled 20 overs. In response, Islamabad United’s innings stopped after they could collect 166 runs in 19.4 overs.

The batsmen of Peshawar Zalmi had a good start coming down to bat. However, the in-form opener Saim Ayub went back to the dressing room after falling victim to Fazalhaq Farooqi on the third ball of the innings. However, Mohammad Haris and Bhanuka Rajapaksa did not let this enforce an impact on the scoreboard.

The two put on a brilliant 115-run stand for the 2nd wicket in 10.1 overs. Where they picked up 69 runs in six overs of power play. Rajapaksa was dismissed for 41 runs off 25 balls hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes. Then captain Tom Kohler-Cadmore came to the wicket. But he could not do much good.

Team leader Kohler-Cadmore returned to the dressing room after scoring only 12 runs. Moreover, after his departure, Peshawar Zalmi fell under pressure. Because the team’s scoreboard went on to 139/5 from 132/3. But at the other end of the wicket, Haris led the team towards a good score. He returned to the pavilion after playing a devastating inning of 79 runs off 39 balls, with 7 fours and 5 sixes.

In the end, Peshawar Zalmi was able to post a big score of 179 runs courtesy of Haseebullah Khan (10), Aamer Jamal (9), and Khurram Shahzad (11). Hasan Ali took the highest number of 3 wickets for Islamabad United. Besides, Shadab Khan took 2, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, and Faheem Ashraf took 1 wicket each.

Chasing a challenging target of 180 runs, Islamabad United came under pressure from the beginning of their innings. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals due to the bowling canon of Peshawar Zalmi’s bowlers. As a result, Islamabad United lost 3 wickets after scoring 40 runs in 6 overs of power play.

However, between these wicket breaks, Colin Munro and Rahmanullah Gurbaz continued to take the team toward the target. But Munro (15) returned to the dressing room whilst the team’s score was 65 runs. Then skipper Shadab Khan came to the wicket and formed a partnership of 35 runs with Gurbaz.

But when Shadab (25) returned to the pavilion for the team’s 100 runs, Islamabad United fell out of the match. Because the team lost 4 wickets out of only 11 runs. Their scoreboard went from 110/5 to 111/8. Gurbaz, who was playing the anchor role for the team, also got out after scoring 33 runs.

Then Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Wasim Jr made the highest partnership of the innings for the ninth wicket. The duo put on a 55-run stand, but it was never enough to win. As a result, Islamabad United was all out for 166 runs with two balls left in the innings.

Faheem played stormy innings of 38 runs off 13 balls for the team. There were 2 fours and 4 sixes in his innings. Wasim Jr remained unbeaten scoring 14 runs. For Peshawar Zalmi, Khurram Shahzad and Sufiyan Muqeem took the maximum number of 3 wickets each. Apart from this, James Neesham and Aamer Jamal took 2 wickets each.

Peshawar Zalmi secured the playoffs from 4th place in the points table with 5 wins and 5 losses in 10 matches. On the other hand, Islamabad United secured the playoffs as the 3rd team in the tournament with six wins and four losses playing 10 matches. Earlier, Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans secured the playoffs as the first and second teams respectively.

Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi Scoreboard

Peshawar Zalmi – 179/8 (20.0)

Islamabad United – 166/10 (19.4)

Result – Peshawar Zalmi won by 13 runs

Player of the match – Mohammad Haris

Mohammad Haris

Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi Playing XIs