Islamabad beat Peshawar, Karachi in practice matches ahead of HBL PSL 5

Two-time HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Islamabad United will be high on confidence ahead of the fifth season, after registering back to back wins over Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi in practice matches.

United posted a total of 195/9  in their 20 overs, after opting to bat first in the second practice match against Zalmi on Tuesday at United Bank Limited (UBL) cricket stadium.

United didn't have the best of starts as they lost the first four wickets of their innings with just 54 runs on the board. Right-hand batsman Saif Badar then provided stability in the middle-order with a knock of 35 runs from 25 balls. However, all-rounder Amad Butt was the star performer with the bat as he top-scored with a 44-run cameo off just 18 balls. Butt was well-supported by left-hand batsman Rizwan Hussain who scored 25 runs from 11 deliveries to take United to a competitive total.

While defending the total, skipper Shadab Khan and all-rounder Hussain Talat picked three wickets each to bowl out Zalmi for just 139 runs and claim a 56-run victory.

ALSO READ: Pleasure to play alongside two young superstars of fast-bowling: Watson

Earlier on Monday, Islamabad United scored 180 runs after batting first  in the first practice match and then restricted Karachi Kings to 151, to beat the hosts by 29 runs at UBL cricket ground.

Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi top-scored with 43 runs from 22 balls, while United’s new foreign recruit Colin Ingram played an unbeaten 42 run-knock from 35 balls.

At the Moin Khan Academy on Monday, Peshawar Zalmi beat last year PSL champions Quetta Gladiators by 71 runs in a high- scoring encounter.