Peshawar Zalmi prove too good for Islamabad United

DUBAI: Peshawar Zalmi, under the leadership of Pakistani mega star Shahid Afridi, proved too good for Misbah-ul-Haq’s Islamabad United, defeating the latter by 24 runs in the third match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) here at the Dubai International Stadium in the early hours of Saturday.

Chasing down the 146-run target set by Zalmi, thanks to Tamim Iqbal for scoring a run-a-ball 51, United players struggled right from the get go. Opener Shane Watson remained top scorer with 28 runs.

New comer Mohammad Asghar and Wahab Riaz took three wickets each while Shaun Tait grabbed two for Afridi’s side.

Earlier, Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to bat. Bangladesh star Tamim Iqbal anchored Zalmi innings scoring 51 in as many balls. Shahid Yousuf and and captain Afridi contributed 16 runs each in the team total.

Andre Russell took three wickets while Watson, Saeed Ajmal and Rumman Raeess shared a wicket each for United.

Teams

Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Hafeez, DJ Malan, Tamim Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Yousuf, Shahid Afridi (c), DJG Sammy, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Asghar, SW Tait

Islamabad United: SR Watson, Umar Amin, Babar Azam, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Imran Khalid, Ashar Zaidi, SW Billings, AD Russell, Saeed Ajmal, Rumman Raees, Sharjeel Khan