Karachi (March 25, 2018): Peshawar Zalmi have set a 149-run target for Islamabad United to chase after winning the toss and opting to bat first in the Pakistan Super League 2018 final at the National Stadium Karachi.
Kamran Akmal and Andre Fletcher opened the innings for the defending champions, whereas Samit Patel and Mohammad Sami shared the new ball for Islamabad United.
United have the edge at half way stage? Guess what @PeshawarZalmi defended in the 2017 #HBLPSL final 😎#DilSeJaanLagaDe pic.twitter.com/UI2rAIJPeH
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
After two quiet overs, things livened up in the third as Fletcher hit back-to-back fours off the bowling of Patel.
Zalmi were dealt a huge blow in the third over when the in-form Akmal departed. Patel had him trapped in front of the wickets and even though he took a review; he failed.
Mohammad Hafeez walked in to join Fletcher in the middle.
The Professor hit the most effortless of 6s in the 4th over bowled by Sami before sent packing by Patel on the first ball of the 5th. Here’s that sequence:
SIX! 3.5 Mohammad Sami to Mohammad Hafeez
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/TptTE8VPwk— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
OUT! 4.1 Samit Patel to Mohammad Hafeez
Watch ball by ball highlights at https://t.co/cOZwC5PSix#IUvPZ #HBLPSL #PSL2018 @_cricingif pic.twitter.com/WsuAR4ilYw— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 25, 2018
Five overs into the final, Zalmi were 36-2 — not the kind of start they would have wanted in the most important match of their PSL 2018 campaign.
And they were soon given another jolt. Shadab Khan was introduced into the attack in the 6th over and he struck almost instantly, sending Fletcher back into the dugout. But Chris Jordan looked in good touch. He hit a six each in the 8th, 9th and 10 overs.
Halfway through their innings, Zalmi were 73-3, with Jordan and Liam Dawson at the crease. Jordan hit another maximum before his 36-run innings came to an end in the 13th over.
Zalmi brought up their century in the 14th over but were dealt another setback in the follow-up over when Hussain Talat removed Saad Nasim. With just 5 overs left in their innings, Zalmi were 110-5 and in desperate need for some late fireworks from their captain Darren Sammy and Liam Dawson.
The curse of Nelson was there for all to see as Zalmi lost two batsmen at the score of 111. First Sammy (6) fell prey to Shadab before Umaid Asif met the same fate.
The wickets kept on tumbling but Zalmi did just enough to put 148 runs on the board for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. They owed a great deal to Wahab Riaz’s late cameo (28 runs off 14 balls).
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