Asif, Iftikhar propel United to 152 despite horrible start against Qalandars  

Islamabad United’s batsmen Asif Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed stepped up after a horrible start to propel their side to 152 for the loss of seven wickets against Lahore Qalandars in their Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six encounter in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.  

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Islamabad United were off to a horror start as the relentless Lahore Qalandars attack blew over half of the opposition batsmen in quick fashion.  

Opener Usman Khawaja was the first wicket to fall after being caught behind by wicketkeeper Ben Dunk off the bowling of pacer Shaheen Shah for a duck.  

Wicketkeeper-batsman Rohail Nazir (one off three) was next as he was adjudged LBW off the bowling of all-rounder James Faulkner.  

Faulkner then removed batsman Colin Munro (four off 11), adjudged LBW, and all-rounder Hussain Talat (eight off 13), caught by fielder Tim David, as Islamabad United found themselves in a lot of trouble early.  

Pacer Haris Rauf then got skipper Shadab Khan (five off seven) to nick behind for a successful caught behind by wicketkeeper Ben Dunk as Lahore Qalandars seemed likely to end the opposition innings early.  

Batsman Asif Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed, however, had different plans and the duo combined for a 123-run partnership off 76 balls to ensure their side was still in the game.  

Asif Ali was explosive throughout his stay in the middle, finally falling to pacer Shaheen Shah through a hit wicket dismissal after scoring 75 runs off 43 balls.  

Iftikhar Ahmed was then removed in the last over of the innings by pacer Haris Rauf, caught by fielder Rashid Khan, after scoring a well-composed 49-run knock off 37 balls to ensure that his side managed a respectable 152-run total for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted overs.  

Faulkner was the most successful bowler from Lahore Qalandars, picking up three wickets at the expense of 19 runs in his allotted overs.