Peshawar Zalmi moved to number three in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine’s points table after beating Islamabad United in the 13th game at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.
This was Peshawar’s third win consecutively while Islamabad lost three matches straight. Multan Sultans is at the top spot while Quetta Gladiators is second.
It must be noted that Babar Azam’s 11th T20 century and Arif Yaqoob’s fifer helped Peshawar Zalmi beat Islamabad United by eight runs.
After posting a 202-run target, Peshawar restricted Islamabad to 193/9.
Despite a promising partnership between Colin Munro and Azam Khan, leading Islamabad towards victory, Yaqoob’s exceptional four-wicket over during the 19th over shifted the momentum in favor of Peshawar.
This event marks a historic moment in the PSL, with Yaqoob becoming the first bowler to claim four wickets in a single over, concluding with figures of 5/27.
Islamabad faced early setbacks in their run chase, losing Jordan Cox (13) in the fifth over when only 32 runs were on the scoreboard. The departure of Shadab Khan (6) and Salman Ali Agha (14) in quick succession added to the pressure, leaving Islamabad at 73/3 in 9.3 overs.
Azam Khan’s entrance transformed the game, forging a remarkable 108-run partnership with Munro. He scored a stunning 75 off 30 deliveries, including six boundaries and as many sixes. However, his departure in the 18th over triggered a collapse in the lower order.
Munro, who contributed 71 runs in 53 balls, fell on the next delivery. Spinner Arif Yaqoob further dented Islamabad’s hopes by taking three more wickets in the penultimate over, achieving a five-wicket haul – the first in PSL 9.
Despite Naseem Shah’s late six in the final over, Islamabad fell short by 9 runs. Apart from Yaqoob, Salman Irshad, Naveen, Luke Wood, and Saim Ayub each secured one wicket.
Opting to bat first, Peshawar’s openers Saim Ayub and Babar laid a strong foundation with a 73-run partnership. Ayub’s brisk 38 off 21 balls set the tone, but quick dismissals in the middle overs left Peshawar at 80/3 in 8.4 overs.
Babar Azam then staged a comeback, orchestrating a ruthless counterattack. His explosive 18th over, featuring four boundaries and a six, turned the tide. Azam’s unbeaten 111 off 63 balls, supported by Asif Ali’s brisk 17, propelled Peshawar to 202. Shadab led United’s bowling with figures of 2/28, while Naseem Shah and Salman Ali Agha claimed one wicket each.
