Kamran stars as Peshawar set up PSL final clash against Quetta

 Karachi: Powered by half centuries by Kamran Akmal and Imam ul-Haq, Peshawar Zalmi beat Islamabad United by 48 runs to set up a mouth-watering finale against Quetta Gladiators on Sunday. In reply to Peshawar’s huge 214 for 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs, Islamabad were restricted to 166/9 in 20 overs to give Peshawar a facile win.

Earlier, Peshawar’s Kamran, who hit 10 boundaries and 3 sixes in his 43-ball 74, and Imam ul-Haq, who scored a 33-ball 58 comprising 7 hits to the boundary and 2 over it, were chiefly responsible for their team’s big total.

Islamabad opted to bowl first after winning the toss.

Peshawar’s openers got the team off to a rollicking start, putting on a 135-run first-wicket partnership in only 12.2 overs. Islamabad’s first wicket fell when Cameron Delport had Imam ul-Haq caught behind by Luke Ronchi. Imam ul-Haq’s opening partner Kamran fell three runs later, caught by Shadab Khan, again off Delport’s bowling.

Sohaib Maqsoud was the next to go, out for only 4 runs, caught behind off the bowling of Shadab.

Kieron Pollard, who made 37 off 21 balls (1x4, 4x6) and Darren Sammy, who hit a quickfire 15-ball 30 (2x4, 2x6), resulted in Peshawar in the end setting a daunting 215-run target for Islamabad to chase when their innings ended at 214/5 in their 20 overs.

Delport was the most successful bowler for Islamabad, with figures of 2/24 in his 3 overs, while Shadab ended with 1/46 off his 4 overs.

Islamabad in reply had a stuttering start, with Ronchi being the first casualty, when speedster Hasan Ali had him caught by Sammy. Hasan took Islamabad’s second wicket as well, having Delport caught by Chris Jordan when the batsman had made 28 (25 balls, 3x4).

In-form Chadwick Watson played a 29-ball 48 before being caught by Nabi Gul off the bowling of Tymal Mills.

Hussain Talat, who scored 19 off 15 balls and Faheem Ashraf, who hit a 13-ball 31 (1x4, 3x6) could not bring their team close enough to pose a challenge to Peshawar’s huge total.

In the end, Islamabad’s innings were terminated at 166/9 in 20 overs.

Hasan and Jordan were the outstanding bowlers for Peshawar, with the former returning with fine figures of 3/29 off his 4 overs and the Englishman, 3/26 off his 4 overs. Mills, Wahab Riaz and Pollard took a wicket each.