Zalmi seal place in HBL PSL final with comprehensive win over United

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Peshawar Zalmi defeated defending champions Islamabad United by 48 runs, to qualify for the final of HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) season four.

Chasing a mammoth target of 215 runs, United got off the worst possible start as they lost Luke Ronchi (17) and Alex Hales (1) with just 26 runs on the board.  

Chadwick Walton and Cameron Delport kept the team in the contest with a brisk partnership of 63 runs. But as soon as Delport departed, United lost their way once again and slipped to 105-5.

Walton scored 48 runs off 29 balls, with the help of three fours and similar number of maximums.

Faheem Ashraf gave the side glimmer of hope with his cameo but that was not enough to take his side over the line. Ashraf scored 31 runs off 14 balls.

For the winning side, pacers Hasan Ali and Chris Jordan were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, each, to their name.

Zalmi posted 214-5 in their allotted 20 overs, after United won the toss and elected to field first.

Openers Kamran Akmal and Imamul Haq set the platform for a massive target with a 135-run opening stand.

Akmal was the highest run-scorer of the innings with 74 runs off 43 balls — an innings which included 10 fours and three maximums.

Imam also impressed with 58 runs off 33 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes.

United threatened to make a comeback in the latter stages of the innings, when Cameron Delport removed both Zalmi openers in the same over but at this stage captain Darren Sammy and all-rounder Kieron Pollard took control of proceedings and provided their side with a strong finish.

Pollard scored brisk 37 runs off 21 balls, with the help of four sixes and a single boundary.

Sammy remained unbeaten on 30 off 15 balls. He smacked two sixes and similar number of fours.

For United, surprisingly Delport was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets for 24 runs in three overs. Rest of the bowlers had an off day in the field and failed to stem the flow of runs.

Zalmi will take on Quetta Gladiators in the final of HBL PSL, on Sunday, March 17, 2019.